The dawn of Charith Asalanka era in T20s
View(s):Charith Asalanka, the former Sri Lanka Under-19 skipper, is set to take over as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain on a permanent basis from the forthcoming series against world champions India. This appointment follows Wanindu Hasaranga’s resignation as T20 skipper, prompted by significant public criticism of his conduct and leadership during his short six-months in office.
Charith Asalanka already has experience leading his school, Richmond College, and Sri Lanka U-19s
Currently serving as vice-captain, Asalanka is expected to be promoted to captain when the selectors announce the team for the upcoming three-match T20 series scheduled for later this month in Pallekele. The national selectors met with Asalanka on Friday to officially convey their decision and discuss team combinations for the Indian tour.
Sri Lanka will face the newly crowned T20 World Champions in a three-match T20 series starting on July 26, exactly three years and a day after Asalanka’s debut on July 25, 2021. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series in Colombo starting on August 4.
Since his debut, Asalanka, now 27, has played 47 T20 internationals, scoring 1,061 runs with five half-centuries at a strike rate of 126.76. Pathum Nissanka, a prolific scorer in white-ball cricket, is likely to be Asalanka’s deputy.
Meanwhile there were also indications that selectors may offer Asalanka the reins of the ODI team as well, taking the burden off Kusal Mendis to make him Sri Lanka’s white-ball skipper. Mendis has done reasonably well as the skipper, winning eight out of the 16 matches he captained but his own performance has been largely inconsistent.
Hasaranga, who played under Asalanka during his school career at Richmond College and then at the national U-19 level, was appointed T20 skipper in December last year following the appointment of a new cricket selection committee headed by Upul Tharanga. A match-winning bowler in T20 cricket, Hasaranga led B-Love Kandy to the Lanka Premier League (LPL) title last year, which was one of the key reasons for his elevation to the national leadership.
However six months later, the selectors were forced to rethink their strategy with Hasaranga’s conduct being heavily scrutinised, and Hasaranga stepped down before he was sacked.
Though Sri Lanka clinched series wins over Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh under Hasaranga, they made a first-round exit at the recent World Cup in the USA and West Indies, leading to a major public outcry over team selection and leadership.
Additionally, the selectors are expected to recall Dinesh Chandimal, 34, for the T20 series against India. Chandimal has been in outstanding form in the ongoing Lanka Premier League tournament, playing as an opener for Kandy Falcons. Although he last played in February 2022, his current performance has compelled the selectors to reconsider him. He scored 237 runs off his first six innings with an impressive strike rate of 183. He is expected to be the wicket-keeper in the side.
This means Angelo Mathews, who was part of the World Cup squad, may not be considered for selection. Kusal Janith Perera, who missed the World Cup, is also likely to be recalled. Perera is one of the four centurions in the tournament.