Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 team preview: Squad, fixtures, prediction, key players

Sri Lanka at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Team Preview

A consistent side across formats in the mid 2000s-early 2010s, Sri Lanka’s extended transition period has meant that they had to play the Qualifier to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. While they won the Qualifier fair and square, their recent form and luck is not something to boast about. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 50 in the Asia Cup final and will be going into the World Cup without their main spinner – Wanindu Hasaranga, and main seamer – Dushmantha Chameera. However, not entering a World Cup with a lot of expectations can also free a team up. Sri Lanka would be hoping for something similar.

Sri Lanka ODI World Cup history

Sri Lanka have played every edition of the World Cup. The first time they went beyond the group stage was the first (and last) time they won the event – in 1996. Since then, they have come close twice, finishing as runners-up in 2007 and 2011. In 2015, they were eliminated in the quarter-final, while in the previous edition, they finished sixth, but not without beating England, the eventual champions, in the group stage.

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Sri Lanka at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Full squad

Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Kumara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha.

Captain: Dasun Shanaka

Coach: Chris Silverwood

Wisden Cricket Monthly’s Most Valuable Player: Charith Asalanka

After 39 ODIs Asalanka averages 41, and it’s getting better by the game. The middle-order pivot during the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, the left-hander is developing a reputation for making tough runs in pressure situations. This World Cup comes at a good time. At 26, three years into his international career, Asalanka is approaching his prime. He and the mercurial Kusal Mendis provide the dash and style in an otherwise one-paced line-up. They will both need to have big tournaments if Sri Lanka are to threaten.

Players to watch: Dunith Wellalage

Dunith Wellalage promises to shine bright and spread his raw intensity in a camp that is desperately looking for a turnaround in global events. Sri Lanka have not made the knockouts of a white-ball ICC event in the last five attempts and had to go through a qualifying round to enter the upcoming World Cup.

The 20-year-old can be a capable replacement for Hasaranga, essaying his duties in the middle overs, and comes with little baggage. In the little that we have seen of Wellalage, he has remained unawed on big occasions, instead bringing out his best when surrounded by them.

Read the piece on Dunith Wellalage here.

Sri Lanka at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Predicted XI

Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana.

Sri Lanka at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Full fixtures list

October 7, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v South Africa (Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi)
October 10, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad)
October 16, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v Australia (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow)
October 21, 10.30 am: Sri Lanka v Netherlands (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow)
October 26, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v England (M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)
October 30, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Gahunje, Pune)
November 2, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v India (Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai)
November 6, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh (Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi)
November 9, 2 pm: Sri Lanka v New Zealand (M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)

A full preview of the 2023 World Cup appears in issue 71 of Wisden Cricket Monthly.