Sri Lanka in catch 22 situation

Defending Champions Sri Lanka are struggling to get 15 fit players on the park for the Asia cup and is the only team till now yet to declare their squad out of the 6 teams for the Asia Cup starting on 30th August. Sri Lanka play their first match on 31st of Aug at Pallekelle against rivals Bangladesh but are yet to declare their squad.

Sri Lanka who had go through the qualifying matches in Zimbabwe had won all their six games had looked a settled side to qualify for the World Cup in India but injuries to major players Wanindu Hasranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madhushanka, Dushmantha Chameera have found them short of experienced bowlers for the Asia Cup where they are in a strong group which has Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Their second match is in Lahore against Afghanistan and it will be a challenge for them to qualify for the super 4 where each teams needs to win at least one game.

But under Dasun Shanaka they showed the fight and resurgence in last year’s Asia Cup in UAE after losing to Afghanistan but going on to win the rest of the games and win the champions even though it was 20/20 format. The biggest blow to Dasun’s and Sri Lanka’s major concern will be the injury to their champion player Wanindu Hasranga who was player of the tournament in the recently Lanka Premier League as he is one player who can run through an opposition with his deceptive spin bowling and he is equally a handy batsman who can score quick runs for his team. But the larger picture for Sri Lanka will be the World Cup in India and they would not like to rush their important players for Asia Cup and keep them fit for the big world cup.

Asia Cup is a dress rehearsal for all the teams except Nepal and everyone would be hoping that they get their right combination come the world cup. Needs to be seen which team comes up with a settled side for the World Cup.