Kusal Mendis ruled out of T20Is vs England; Asalanka to captain Sri Lanka
Synopsis
Sri Lanka's injury woes from the Lanka Premier League 2026 have reshuffled their England tour plans — captain Kusal Mendis is out with a hamstring problem, Binura Fernando is sidelined with a back injury, and Charith Asalanka returns to T20I captaincy after six months away. The tour, starting 15 September, will test Sri Lanka's depth across both white-ball formats.
Key Takeaways
Kusal Mendis has been ruled out of the three-match T20I series vs England due to a hamstring injury from the Lanka Premier League 2026.
Binura Fernando is also out with a back injury sustained during the same tournament.
Charith Asalanka will captain Sri Lanka in the T20Is — his return to the format after six months , last playing at the 2026 World Cup .
Pavan Rathnayake replaces Mendis and Dilshan Madushka replaces Fernando in the revised squad.
Dasun Shanaka returns to ODI cricket for the first time since January 2024 .
The England tour begins on 15 September , covering three T20Is and three ODIs .
Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka's ODI and T20I captain, has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against England, with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirming on Friday, 4 September that Charith Asalanka will lead the side in his absence. Fast-bowler Binura Fernando has also been ruled out, forcing SLC to revise the squad announced earlier in the week.
Why Mendis and Fernando Are Out
Kusal Mendis is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the Lanka Premier League 2026 and has not yet been cleared for competitive cricket. Binura Fernando, meanwhile, is dealing with a back injury also traced to the same tournament.
'Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando will not take part in the upcoming T20I series against England, as both players are still undergoing rehabilitation following injuries sustained during the Lanka Premier League 2026,' SLC said in an official statement.
Squad Changes Announced
SLC has moved quickly to fill the gaps. Top-order batter Pavan Rathnayake has been named as Mendis' replacement in the batting department, while Dilshan Madushka comes in for Fernando in the pace attack. Both are included in the revised 16-member T20I squad.
Asalanka's Return to T20I Leadership
Charith Asalanka steps up to captain the T20I side, marking his return to the shortest international format after a six-month absence. His last T20I appearance came during the 2026 World Cup. Asalanka had previously been removed as ODI captain three months ago but was reinstated into the leadership group as vice-captain when SLC named squads for both the T20Is and ODIs.
Notably, this tour — which gets underway on 15 September — comprises three T20Is and three ODIs. Asalanka will captain only the T20I leg, with Mendis listed as ODI captain in the 50-over squad.
Shanaka's ODI Return
Dasun Shanaka, who captained Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026, has been included in both white-ball squads for the tour. Significantly, his inclusion in the ODI side marks his first appearance in that format since January 2024 — a return of over 18 months.
Full Squads
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis (c), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
Sri Lanka T20I squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Pavan Rathnayake, Dilshan Madushanka.
Sri Lanka's management will be watching Mendis' recovery closely ahead of the ODI leg, with the captain's availability for the 50-over matches still an open question.
Point of View
With the Lanka Premier League now costing them their captain on the eve of a marquee bilateral series. Asalanka's reappointment, coming just months after he was stripped of the ODI captaincy, signals a pragmatic reshuffle rather than a settled leadership vision. The deeper question is whether SLC's player workload management can keep its first-choice XI fit across an increasingly congested calendar — a structural problem that one squad revision cannot fix.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Kusal Mendis been ruled out of the T20I series against England?
Kusal Mendis has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Lanka Premier League 2026. He is still undergoing rehabilitation and has not been cleared to play, according to Sri Lanka Cricket's official statement.
Who will captain Sri Lanka in the T20I series against England?
Charith Asalanka will captain Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series against England. He returns to T20I cricket after a six-month absence, with his last appearance coming at the 2026 World Cup.
What changes have been made to Sri Lanka's T20I squad?
Pavan Rathnayake has been named as Mendis' batting replacement, while Dilshan Madushka comes in for the injured Binura Fernando. Both were added to the revised 16-member T20I squad announced on 4 September.
When does Sri Lanka's England tour begin?
The tour begins on 15 September and covers three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals.
What is significant about Dasun Shanaka's inclusion in the squad?
Dasun Shanaka's inclusion in the ODI squad marks his return to that format for the first time since January 2024 — an absence of over 18 months. He also captained Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026 and is part of both white-ball squads for the England tour.
