The Sri Lankan Cricket Team would be looking to give an improved performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. They will begin their journey against South Africa on 3rd June in New York. Sri Lanka will be led by Hasranga and hoping to lead with the bowl helping them to win their 2nd T20 World Cup title.
The Sri Lankan Cricket Team won their only T20 World Cup title in 2014 winning against India. They could not qualify for the semi-finals in the 2022 edition knocked in the Super 12 stage. Sri Lanka has played a total of 51 matches in the T20 World Cup history with 31 wins, 19 losses, and 1 tie.
Sri Lanka qualified for the Super 12 stage winning all three matches against Netherlands, UAE, and Ireland. They failed to register any victories over major nations including Australia, England, and New Zealand.
Strengths
The Sri Lankan Cricket Team has a strong batting unit with the likes of Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, and Charith Asalanaka who can change the course of the match with their power-hitting.
Kusal Mendis finished as the leading run-getter for Sri Lanka in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He made 223 runs from 8 matches (8 innings) with 2 half-centuries to his name including the best score of 79.
Pathum Nissanka also proved his worth with 214 runs from 7 matches (7 innings) with 2 half-centuries including best score of 74. Kusal Mendis and Nissanka need to prove their worth against South Africa and Bangladesh help them qualify for the Super 8 stage.
Sri Lanka has a strong bowling line-up including pacers namely Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thusara, and Chameera. They also include quality spinners named Hasranga and Wellage who can change the course of the match with quality bowling.
Hasranga ended the T20 World Cup 2022 as the leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets from 8 matches (8 innings) at an economy of 6.41 runs per over. Pathirana had a great IPL season with 13 wickets from 6 matches for CSK during the 2024 IPL. He along with Dilshan Madushanka, Thusara and Chameera would be looking to create an impact against their opponents in the group. Madushanka will be returning to the squad after recovering from an injury.
Weakness
Sri Lanka’s main problem in this year’s T20 World Cup would be the lack of power-hitters who can change the course of the match with their power-hitting coming lower down the order. The middle-order batting could be a major problem as they keep losing wickets which can stop them from scoring big totals.
Apart from Hasranga, the Sri Lankan team lacks a quality spinner who can complement the captain and make sure to pick wickets at both ends.
Opportunities
The Sri Lankan team has a great chance to win their 2nd ICC T20 World Cup title. Charith Asalanaka and others look to create an impact making life tough for the opponents.
With Angelo Mathews likely to play his last T20 World Cup, it is a chance for him to end his career with a major title. Sri Lanka will face their toughest challenge in the opening match against South Africa which could lay a strong foundation to qualify for the Super 8 stage. They defeated Bangladesh in March recently which will be of great help.
Threats
The threats for Sri Lanka in this tournament will be that they would need to play their best cricket to qualify for the Super 8 stage with the likes of South Africa, Netherlands, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka would be hoping their star players do not get injured and hamper their chances of qualifying for the next round. They will be playing matches at different venues and adapting to the conditions could be a major problem.
Squads:
Wanindu Hasranga (c), Charith Asalanaka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellage, Dushamanta Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.
Travelling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viiyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage.
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