No room for Vandersay at World Cup

Seasoned leg-spin bowler Jeffrey Vandersay has been omitted from a 25-member Sri Lanka preliminary squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup with Dasun Shanaka retained as captain.

Instead finding a place in the squad is the raw spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth who has played in just two matches compared to Vandersay who has played in 46 white ball games. 

The T20 World Cup will commence on February 6, 2026 with India and Sri Lanka as hosting nations.

Pramodya Wickremesinghe who heads the new Selection Committee said the 25 players were picked by the outgoing Selection Committee and will be retained from which the final 15-member squad will be selected.

Recalled to the squad is Niroshan Dickwella who if selected to the final squad may play his first match for Sri Lanka after nearly five years.

Before the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka will play against Pakistan and England in a three-match series each in January.

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pawan Ratnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Ratnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakant Vyaskanth, Treveen Matthew, Kamil Mishara.