Ex-team selector Pramodya over the moon

Pramodya Wickremasinghe

By Champika Fernando

Sri Lanka step into the 2025 Asia Cup with a sense of genuine optimism and memories of 2022, when the islanders stunned the cricketing world to lift the trophy.
Former chairman of team selectors Pramodya Wickremasinghe believes the current squad is well equipped to repeat that achievement.
Sri Lanka faces a group stage that demands both skill and tactical discipline and Wickremasinghe sees enough balance, experience and preparation within the team to deal with what lies ahead.
“We have a very balanced side, a young side that has been built over the last three to four years,” he said. “They are far more experienced now. I am confident this team can win the Asia Cup tournament this year.”
Sri Lanka’s cricketing revival in recent years has been deliberate and systematic and Wickremasinghe points to the 2021 World Cup as the first significant test for this generation of players.
“Our first test came at the 2021 World Cup, where we did well with this young team. What we focused on at the time was training them to play modern cricket. We used analysis, data and software tools to prepare them. There were lots of criticism about our policy to nurture a young team, but we are reaping the benefits today,” he recalled.
The use of technology and a data-driven approach gave Sri Lanka’s youngsters the ability to adapt, strategise and outthink stronger opponents a departure from older methods and marked a cultural shift.
That shift bore fruit in 2022 when Sri Lanka stormed through the Asia Cup as underdogs as they went all the way to claim the trophy in a spirited campaign. Wickremasinghe remembers the planning that went into that success.
“By that stage, we had planned things properly and motivated the players. No one expected much from us, but we delivered,” he said.
Wickremasinghe points to the contributions of cricketing legends and coaches who played crucial roles in guiding the players. “Mahela Jayawardene, Mickey Arthur, Chris Silverwood and others all contributed during that period.
“This unit can easily stay together for another five years. They have played as a team for a while and they have enough experience behind them to rise up to the occasion,” he said.
Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have been the three most consistent run scorers for Sri Lanka in T20 internationals, amassing more than 6,000 runs between them. Dasun Shanaka remains the most capped T20 player with 108 appearances. Around him, skipper Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera have all crossed the 50-match mark, giving the squad the kind of collective experience that is invaluable in high-pressure tournaments. Consistency and discipline will be key and Wickremasinghe believes the Sri Lankans have those qualities in abundance. “Definitely they will win,” he said with conviction, repeating his faith in the squad.
Sri Lanka open its campaign against Bangladesh on Saturday before facing Hong Kong and Afghanistan in the group stage.