Sri Lanka has named a 15-member squad led by Sahan Arachchige for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, featuring the return of Niroshan Dickwella after a five-year T20I absence. Dickwella, who last played the format internationally in June 2021, joins Chamika Karunaratne as a senior figure in the developmental side.
The selection of a second-string roster is due to a scheduling conflict with the national team’s primary white-ball squad, which is currently touring England. The ODI series in the United Kingdom concludes on September 27, while the Asian Games cricket competition begins on September 24. Nuwan Thushara and Tharindu Ratnayake are the only players included in both the England tour and Asian Games squads.
The bowling attack includes left-arm seamer Binura Fernando, who has recovered from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the recent T20I series in England. The squad also features four uncapped players: Sineth Jayawardena, Sohan de Livera, Wanuja Sahan, and Garuka Sanketh.
Sanketh was confirmed as the 15th member in the final list released on September 22. Preliminary Olympic committee filings had included Pramod Madushan, but the final Sri Lanka Cricket announcement confirmed Sanketh’s inclusion for the tournament. The team will bypass the group stages and enter the competition at the quarter-final phase on September 29 at Kōrogi Sports Park.
The Selection Committee noted that the squad blends senior campaigners with emerging talent to remain competitive while the frontline team completes its international obligations. The squad is scheduled to depart for Japan on September 24.
