Hasaranga most wanted even half fit

By Champika Fernando

Sri Lanka will be banking heavily on talismanic leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga when they open their Asia Cup T20 campaign against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Saturday in what promises to be a defining early clash of the tournament.

Charith Asalanka’s men, who suffered a painful 2-1 home T20 series defeat to Bangladesh in July, are determined to turn the tables in their quest for continental glory. For that, they hope Hasaranga’s presence, even at less than full fitness, will be enough to tilt the balance in their favour.

The 28-year-old leg-spinner, Sri Lanka’s leading T20 wicket-taker with 131 scalps in just 79 matches at an astonishing average of 15.41, rejoined the squad in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday alongside batsman Janith Liyanage. 

Despite carrying the remnants of a hamstring injury picked up during the ODI series against Bangladesh in July, the selectors have all but confirmed his inclusion for the opening fixture.

“I wouldn’t say he is 100 per cent at the moment,” chief selector Upul Tharanga admitted. “But we have four days before our first game and I am confident he will make it to the playing XI.”

It is a calculated gamble, but one Sri Lanka are willing to take. The absence of Hasaranga in recent weeks has been felt deeply. Without his guile and control, the spin department appeared blunt, particularly during the limited-overs series in Zimbabwe where Maheesh Theekshana managed only two wickets across formats.

Hasaranga’s value to the side goes far beyond statistics. His ability to choke runs in the middle overs while producing game-changing breakthroughs has been central to Sri Lanka’s modern-day white-ball identity. He was the architect of Pakistan’s downfall in the 2022 Asia Cup final, claiming three wickets in an impressive performance that sealed Sri Lanka’s sixth continental crown. He finished that campaign with nine wickets and 66 runs to earn the Player of the Tournament award.

It was against Bangladesh, too, in July, that Hasaranga showcased his match-winning touch. 

In the opening ODI, he triggered a dramatic collapse that turned the game decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour, before his injury in the series finale curtailed his involvement. The leg-spinner has not featured in a T20I since January’s tour of New Zealand, making his comeback all the more eagerly anticipated.

For Bangladesh, his return could be a worrying prospect. Their top order, while in good recent form, has often shown vulnerability to quality leg-spin. Facing Hasaranga on a slowing Sheikh Zayed Stadium surface could prove daunting. The pitch in Abu Dhabi is known to aid stroke-play early on, with pace and bounce on offer, but it tends to slow as the match progresses, drawing spinners into the contest. 

That scenario is tailor-made for Hasaranga to exert his influence.

The stakes are high. Group B, where Sri Lanka is drawn alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong, leaves little margin for error. Only two teams progress to the Super Four stage. With Afghanistan’s spin-heavy line-up lurking, victory in the opener could provide Sri Lanka with the momentum they desperately seek before facing Hong Kong on September 15 and Afghanistan three days later.