Sri Lanka name their T20 squad, everyone has an opinion. In comes Kusal Perera, out goes Kamindu Mendis, and the countdown to a home World Cup suddenly feels a touch frantic. The new selection panel, led by former quick Pramodya Wickramasinghe, has wasted little time in stamping its mark, but several choices have already prompted raised eyebrows – and not just outside the camp.
The headline call is Perera’s return only weeks after being overlooked for the series in Pakistan. Kamindu – batting all-rounder, ambidextrous spinner, brilliant under the high ball – is the one to miss out. Few would argue Perera’s recent numbers shout for a recall; at 35 he has gone 18 T20 innings without a fifty. Yet Dasun Shanaka, weighing up both World Cup pressure and home conditions, sees value in a familiar face.
“He has been in the T20 side [in] the recent past, even though he was left out of the squad to face Pakistan,” Shanaka reminded reporters on the eve of the first England match in Pallekele. “We know that experienced players are very valuable in a World Cup. If you take strike rates, Kusal Janith can be used anywhere in the top six, so he will be a very valuable player.”
Asked directly about Kamindu’s omission, the captain sounded less certain. “That’s a question you should ask the selectors. As a captain, I don’t take decisions alone. We take decisions as a group. Kamindu, to be honest, is a very valuable player. That decision is something many people took together.” It was polite, but it hardly felt like an enthusiastic endorsement of the panel’s logic.
Bowling changes are equally notable. Sling-armed quick Nuwan Thushara, an automatic pick only six months ago, finds himself out after a lean spell. His slot goes to Pramod Madushan, last seen in T20 internationals in April 2023. The thinking is simple: every time Dushmantha Chameera plays, a physio is not far away. Madushan offers a like-for-like option, albeit at a shade slower pace.
“In terms of importance, we know Dushmantha Chameera will play. That said, with the World Cup close by, his workload needs to be managed,” Shanaka said. “He’s not someone we need to play and see what he’s doing right and wrong. But we need a backup for him, and that’s why Pramod has come into the squad.”
Madushan’s recall is partly down to what he did with the older white ball against England in last week’s ODI series – three wickets in the first match, decent yorkers at the end, and a clear willingness to bowl the tough overs. In modern selection meetings, recency bias is rarely a dirty phrase.
The same can be said of Dunith Wellalage. Six T20Is in 15 months is hardly a body of work, yet his tidy left-arm spin and lower-order cameos (three 20-plus knocks in the ODIs) have nudged him ahead of more seasoned campaigners. On slow sub-continental pitches, a spinner who bats is gold; selectors clearly agree.
All this chopping and changing comes with a wider context. Sri Lanka, co-hosts alongside India, quietly fancy their chances of a deep World Cup run. Home advantage, specialist spinners, and a seam attack guided by Chameera mean nobody inside the dressing-room is talking only of making the Super Eights. Former England captain Nasser Hussain said last week he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the hosts were still alive come semi-final time. It is flattery, though it also heaps a little pressure on a squad that has blown hot and cold since lifting the Asia Cup in 2025.
There are still moving parts. Angelo Mathews travelled with the group but remains a standby. A back-up wrist-spinner could yet be drafted if pitches turn more than expected. And Perera himself, pencilled in as opener, has to show he can still clear the in-field in the first six overs.
For now, Shanaka plants a flag in the ground. Experience matters, yes, but so does rhythm, fielding standards and squad versatility. The World Cup warm-up series against England offers three matches to fine-tune. In two weeks the conversation will shift from who should have been picked to how well those chosen can handle knockout pressure. Sri Lanka have rolled the dice; the next throw is on the pitch.
