Arachchige to Captain Sri Lanka’s 15-Member Asian Games Squad as First-Choice T20I Players Rested

Sri Lanka have named Sahan Arachchige as captain of a 15-member squad for the men’s T20 cricket competition at the Asian Games, with several of the country’s first-choice T20I players rested for the tournament.

The squad features recalls for experienced campaigners Ashen Bandara and Niroshan Dickwella, while Sineth Jayawardena, Sohan de Livera, Wanuja Sahan and Garuka Sanketh have received their maiden T20I call-ups.

Bandara last represented Sri Lanka in 2023, while Dickwella’s most recent T20I appearance came in 2021. The pair have been selected for their experience despite modest returns in the 2026 Lanka Premier League. Bandara featured in only three matches for Colombo Kaps, scoring 28 runs, while Dickwella accumulated 110 runs for Dambulla Sixers at a strike rate of 142.85.

Arachchige, who also captained Sri Lanka at the previous Asian Games, will lead the side again. Sri Lanka were eliminated from that tournament after losing their only match against Afghanistan.

Domestic performers earn call-ups

Several players have earned selection after impressive performances in domestic cricket.

Left-arm spinning allrounder Wanuja Sahan was among Colombo's key performers in the LPL, taking nine wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 6.30. He also produced a Player-of-the-Match performance in the Eliminator, returning figures of 2 for 8, and contributed a quick 34 not out from 15 balls earlier in the competition.

Fast bowler Garuka Sanketh also caught the selectors' attention with his pace during the LPL. Although he went wicketless in four appearances, he followed that up with 11 wickets for Moors Sports Club in the Major Clubs T20 Tournament at an economy rate of 8.87.

Jayawardena and de Livera were among the leading run-scorers in the Major Clubs T20 Tournament. Jayawardena topped the batting charts with 372 runs at a strike rate of 167.56, while de Livera scored 307 runs at 156.63.

Jayawardena, who captained Sri Lanka at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, was particularly impressive in the tournament final, smashing 82 from just 32 balls to help Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club defeat Sinhalese Sports Club.

Viyaskanth returns after domestic success

Legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has also been included after narrowly missing out on selection for Sri Lanka's T20I series against England. His 17 wickets in the Major Clubs T20 Tournament made him the competition's leading wicket-taker and strengthened his case for selection.

Allrounder Chamika Karunaratne returns to the squad after an influential LPL campaign with Galle Gallant. He scored 253 runs at a strike rate of 157.14 and played an important role in the franchise's title-winning campaign.

The spin department is further strengthened by ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake and legspinner Dushan Hemantha, while Nuwan Thushara and left-arm fast bowler Binura Fernando provide additional experience to the pace attack.

Sri Lanka have secured direct qualification for the quarter-finals of the Asian Games and will play their first match on September 29 in Nisshin.

Sri Lanka's Asian Games squad

• Sahan Arachchige (captain)

• Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper)

• Lasith Croospulle

• Sineth Jayawardena

• Nuwanidu Fernando

• Sohan de Livera

• Ashen Bandara

• Chamika Karunaratne

• Tharindu Ratnayake

• Wanuja Sahan

• Vijayakanth Viyaskanth

• Dushan Hemantha

• Nuwan Thushara

• Binura Fernando

• Garuka Sanketh