On the mend, leg-spinning all-rounder picked in Sri Lankan team for Asia Cup

Originally posted on Guerilla Cricket | By Aryan Surana | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 10:50 AM ET

Sri Lanka have named Wanindu Hasaranga in their 16-member squad for Asia Cup T20 2025, though the leg-spinning allrounder’s participation is subject to fitness clearance. He was not picked in the Charith Asalanka-led 16-member Sri Lanka squad for the two-match ODI series in Zimbabwe. The experienced campaigner, who suffered a hamstring injury during the T20I series against Bangladesh in July, sat out the ODIs versus Bangladesh and was subsequently sidelined for the 50-overs games against Zimbabwe as well.

The Sri Lankan selectors have not tinkered with the core too much. with Dasun Shanaka being the other all-round resource apart from Hasaranga. Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera will do the heavy lifting with the willow, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage supply spin options, while Dushmantha Chameera spearheads the pace attack alongside Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando. Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne and Kamil Mishara are also part of the squad for Asia Cup.

SRI LANKA squad for Asia Cup 2025
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana

As compared to the squad that met Bangladesh in July, the Asia Cup group leaves out senior pros like Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay, while Mishara and Kamindu Mendis have been roped in. The T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour, meanwhile, features Vishen Halambage and Dushan Hemantha in Hasaranga’s absence, with the remainder of the Asia Cup unit.

Sri Lanka are slotted in Group B of the Asia Cup alongside Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. They begin their tournament against Bangladesh on September 13 in Abu Dhabi, before locking horns with an ever-improving Afghanistan on September 16 in Dubai and Hong Kong on September 18 in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe gets underway on September 3.

This article first appeared on Guerilla Cricket and was syndicated with permission.

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