Batting all-rounder Dasun Shanka has been named captain of the national T20 side up until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India in October this year. 

The 29-year-old replaces Lasith Malinga who recently announced his retirement from franchise cricket. His appointment was made by the national cricket selectors whose head Ashantha de Mel resigned in January after Sri Lanka conceded their second 2-0 Test defeat in six weeks. The selection committee now comprises Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Chaminda Mendis but a new committee is likely to take over this week.

His first assignment will be the West Indies series where Sri Lanka will play 3 T20 internationals. 
Shanaka led a young Sri Lankan outfit against Pakistan in 2019 and won the series 2-0.