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An ODI series a matter of weeks before a T20 World Cup is hardly text-book planning, yet Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka is working with what he has. Speaking on the eve of the first match against England, he preferred to talk opportunity rather than inconvenience, even if the past few months have been uncomfortable for him.
Last month Asalanka lost the T20 captaincy after a row with the board regarding the security arrangements for November’s tour of Pakistan. The official line was poor form; either way, he is back in front of the microphones and back in charge of the 50-over side.
“The series is really not suitable for this time, because it’s ODI cricket not T20 cricket,” Asalanka admitted. “A lot of the T20 players aren’t in the squad, I think this is for the most part preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. We shouldn’t mix up ODIs and T20Is. For the players also in the T20 side, this is a good opportunity to find some form and bat and bowl for longer spells over 50 overs.
“We need to start the process of building up our best side for the 2027 World Cup, by that time we need to make sure that most of the players have played at least 60 ODIs – ideally 100, 120. That’s the main advantage of playing these ODIs.”
Those comments frame the three-match series as a trial ground, not a headline event. The squad itself underlines that view. Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva returns for his first ODI since 2023. A change of selection panel has worked in his favour; his recent white-ball efforts were limited to the Pakistan T20Is earlier this month, yet decision-makers see him as an all-round asset on slow pitches.
“The selectors took that decision thinking on the fact that DDS [Dhananjaya de Silva] can bat in the top three in the line-up, and then he can contribute with off-spin as well,” Asalanka said. “Given his recent performance and the package he brings to the table with his all-round ability, I think we can get a lot out of him – he is now in the best period of his career.
“We’ve not got the best out of him in the past, but the intent he has shown recently in T20s – as a fielder also he’s excellent, he’s a very useful bowler – his form in domestic cricket over a long period of time, I think if you give a player like that a chance and get him to reach his potential it will be extremely useful for the side.”
That viewpoint is echoed quietly within the dressing room. One senior player, speaking off the record, noted that de Silva “reads conditions faster than most” – a handy trait when 300 is no longer a par score in every venue.
The selectors have also turned to seamer-all-rounder Milan Rathnayake. At 29 he is not the standard “project player” yet his productive stint with Sri Lanka A and a sprinkling of lower-order cameos for Moors SC caught the eye. He played just one ODI last July, but chief selector Jayasuriya (no relation to the World Cup legend) underlined the logic: “He bowls briskly, hits good areas and can clear the ropes. In sub-continental World Cup conditions that matters.”
Whether Rathnayake gets a full run remains to be seen; the temptation will be to rely on the established attack of Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka and the evergreen Wanindu Hasaranga. Still, workload management ahead of the T20 tournament might open the door for him.
England, for their part, have brought a near-full strength squad despite similar calendar headaches. They, too, are juggling formats, though coach Matthew Mott brushed aside the scheduling grumbles in typically understated fashion: “You adapt, that’s international cricket.” Privately, the visitors know early wickets with the new ball could expose Sri Lanka’s middle order, a unit still finding a settled shape.
A quick look at the numbers shows why the hosts crave stability. Since the start of 2024 Sri Lanka have used 27 players in ODIs, more than any other Full Member nation. Only four of those – Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Asalanka himself – average above 35 in that period. Bowling returns are healthier, thanks largely to Hasaranga’s 28 wickets at 20 apiece, but even he has not played an ODI since October after nursing an ankle niggle.
Analytically, the immediate goal is simple: bat 50 overs and take wickets with the new ball. The 2027 horizon sits in the background, yet performances now dictate morale heading to the USA and Caribbean for the T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka supporters, accustomed to roller-coaster campaigns, will watch for signs of coherence rather than fireworks. A solid platform from Nissanka and de Silva, tidy overs from Rathnayake if he plays, and a calm hand from Asalanka at No. 5 would quieten recent noise around selection. Lose early wickets and leak runs in the powerplay, and the debate about timing will grow louder.
For now, the captain is staying positive. The series starts on Thursday in Kandy, where rain is never far away. So too, it seems, is another format shift. But if Sri Lanka can tick a few long-term boxes while avoiding injuries, the timing may not feel quite so awkward after all.
