After once again a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2026, calls for major changes are being heard in the Sri Lankan cricket team. Despite being co-host, being out of the Super-8 stage of the tournament has proved to be a big blow for both the team and the fans. Now reports are coming out that this defeat can directly impact the team’s captaincy and selection committee.
Pressure increased as soon as he was out of Super-8
There were a lot of expectations from the Sri Lankan team, which made a great start by winning three consecutive matches in the group stage. However, as soon as the team reached the Super-8, its performance suddenly dropped. In the first match, England lost and after that New Zealand also defeated them. These two consecutive defeats closed all paths for the team to reach the semi-finals.
The Sri Lankan team, which won the T20 World Cup in 2014, has not been able to even reach the top-4 in major tournaments for the last several years. This time, even while playing on the home ground, the team could not live up to the expectations, due to which the pressure on the cricket board to take tough decisions has increased.
The blame may fall on the captain and selectors
According to AFP reports and news agency reports, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board will review the team’s performance after the tournament is over. After this, big decisions like removal of captain Dasun Shanaka and national selectors can be taken. It is also being said that some officers may resign from their posts themselves.
Earlier, the team’s head coach Sanath Jayasuriya had announced in January itself that he would step down from his post after the World Cup. In such a situation, big changes can be seen in team management in the coming time.
What did the captain say after the defeat?
Captain Dasun Shanaka was looking quite dejected after the defeat against New Zealand. He admitted that being out of the tournament like this in front of the home crowd is a very shameful feeling. According to him, the team had started well, but at important moments both the bowlers and batsmen came under pressure.
Shanaka said that the team will now have to give up the habit of depending on one or two players. He also believed that positive thinking and aggressive attitude is very important in a fast format like T20, but the team could not show the same game in this tournament.
Now it will be interesting to see what kind of changes take place in Sri Lankan cricket after the tournament and whether the team moves towards the future with new leadership or not.
