The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, meeting on Tuesday, September 22 2026, confirmed a 15-member men’s squad for the Asian Games 2026 T20I competition to be held in Japan. Sahan Arachchige will lead the side, with Niroshan Dickwella retaining the wicketkeeper’s role.
The squad is set to depart for Japan on September 24 2026. The T20I competition runs from September 24 to October 3 2026, with all matches scheduled at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture. Ten nations will contest the men’s event.
The selectors have rotated heavily from the group that toured England, with only Nuwan Thushara and Tharindu Ratnayake carrying over into this squad. Binura Fernando, who missed the England tour due to injury, has recovered sufficiently to earn selection for the Asian Games, making his return one of the more notable developments in this announcement.
How did Sri Lanka perform in England ahead of this squad announcement?
Sri Lanka were whitewashed 3-0 by England in the three-match T20I series. The Three Lions wrapped up the clean sweep with an eight-wicket victory at Old Trafford on September 19 2026. The series was captained by Charith Asalanka, who stepped in after Kusal Mendis, the originally appointed captain, was ruled out through injury before the tour began.
The substantial difference between the England touring party and the Asian Games group underlines the selectors’ intent to use the multi-sport event to assess a broader pool of players ahead of future assignments.
What is Sri Lanka’s history at cricket in the Asian Games?
Cricket has appeared at the Asian Games on three occasions in the past, beginning with its introduction at the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, where Sri Lanka finished with the bronze medal. Four years later in Incheon, Sri Lanka went one better, defeating Afghanistan in the final to claim the gold medal.
The most recent edition, held in Hangzhou in 2023, ended without a medal for Sri Lanka. India took gold at that tournament, Afghanistan claimed silver and Bangladesh secured bronze. Sri Lanka will be aiming to return to the podium when competition begins in Japan later this month.
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Sri Lanka full squad for Asian Games 2026 men’s T20I event
Sahan Arachchige (C), Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), 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.
