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Introduction

Sri Lanka is one of the most successful teams in the history of the Cricket World Cup, having won the title in 1996 and reached the finals in 2007 and 2011. In this article, we will take a look at the Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 squad team, including its captain, vice-captain, wicket-keeper, coach, best batsman, best bowler, fastest bowler, best spinner, and the schedule of its matches and venues. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the team and its prospects in the tournament.

The island nation has produced some of the greatest players and legends of the game, such as Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mahela Jayawardene. However, in recent years, Sri Lanka has struggled to maintain its consistency and performance in international cricket, especially in the limited-overs format. The team has undergone several changes in leadership, coaching staff, and selection policies, and has faced various challenges and controversies on and off the field.

The upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will be a crucial opportunity for Sri Lanka to prove its mettle and regain its glory in the global arena. The tournament will be hosted by India from 5 October to 19 November 2023, and will feature 10 teams competing in a round-robin and knockout format. Also Sri Lanka has qualified for the event as one of the top eight teams in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, a series of matches played between 2020 and 2023. Sri Lanka will face some of the toughest opponents in the world, such as India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Netherlands.

New SRI LANKA Squad For ICC World Cup 2023 – Team

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced its 15-player squad for the World Cup on 26 September 2023. The squad is as follows:

Captain of SRI LANKA Cricket Team For ICC World Cup

The captain of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Dasun Shanaka, who is also an all-rounder. He was appointed as the captain of the ODI and T20I teams in July 2021, after Kusal Perera stepped down due to injury. Shanaka made his international debut in 2015 and has played 30 ODIs and 43 T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. He is known for his aggressive batting style and his ability to hit big shots. He also bowls right-arm medium-fast and can be handy with the ball. Dasun Shanaka has scored 602 runs and taken 16 wickets in ODIs, with a highest score of 91 and a best bowling figure of 3/16. He has also scored 816 runs and taken 18 wickets in T20Is, with a highest score of 84* and a best bowling figure of 3/27.

Shanaka has led Sri Lanka in nine ODIs and eight T20Is so far, winning four and losing five in each format. Dasun Shanaka has also captained Sri Lanka in two T20I series victories against Pakistan (2019) and India (2021). He is the first Sri Lankan captain to win a bilateral T20I series against both these teams. He has also scored 235 runs and taken six wickets as captain in ODIs, and 144 runs and four wickets as captain in T20Is.

Shanaka will be leading Sri Lanka for the first time in a World Cup, and will have the responsibility of guiding the team through a tough group stage. He will also have to deal with the pressure and expectations of the fans and the media, who have been critical of the team’s performance and selection in recent times. Shanaka will have to inspire his team-mates with his leadership skills and his performance on the field, and hope to emulate the success of his predecessors such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Mahela Jayawardene, and Kumar Sangakkara.

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Vice-Captain

The vice-captain of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Kusal Mendis, who is also a batsman. He was named as the vice-captain of the ODI and T20I teams in July 2021, along with Shanaka’s appointment as the captain. Mendis made his international debut in 2015 and has played 79 ODIs and 30 T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. He is regarded as one of the most talented and promising batsmen in the country, with a solid technique and a wide range of strokes. He can bat at any position in the order, from opening to middle-order. Kusal Mendis has scored 2,214 runs in ODIs, with four centuries and 15 half-centuries, and a highest score of 119. He has also scored 587 runs in T20Is, with four half-centuries, and a highest score of 79.

Mendis has been the vice-captain of Sri Lanka in nine ODIs and eight T20Is so far, winning four and losing five in each format. He has also been part of the two T20I series victories against Pakistan (2019) and India (2021). He has scored 286 runs as vice-captain in ODIs, with two half-centuries, and 111 runs as vice-captain in T20Is.

Mendis will be playing in his second World Cup, after being part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in 2019. He will have to support Shanaka as his deputy and also contribute with his bat at the top of the order. He will also have to overcome his inconsistency and lack of form that have plagued him in recent times. Mendis will have to prove his critics wrong and show his class and potential as a world-class batsman.

Wicket-Keeper

The wicket-keeper of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Kusal Perera, who is also a batsman. He was initially named as the captain of the ODI and T20I teams in May 2021, after Dimuth Karunaratne was dropped from both formats. However, he had to step down from the role due to a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the home series against India in July 2021.

Perera made his international debut in 2013 and has played 107 ODIs and 51 T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. He is known for his explosive batting style and his ability to score quickly. Perera can also open the innings or bat in the middle-order. Kusal Perera has scored 2,964 runs and effected 103 dismissals (86 catches and 17 stumpings) in ODIs, with five centuries and 15 half-centuries, and a highest score of 153*. Kusal Perera has also scored 1,316 runs and effected 33 dismissals (25 catches and eight stumpings) in T20Is, with one century and seven half-centuries, and a highest score of 110.

Perera has led Sri Lanka in three ODIs and three T20Is so far, winning one and losing two in each format. He has also scored 109 runs as captain in ODIs, with one half-century, and 69 runs as captain in T20Is.

Perera will be playing in his third World Cup, after being part of the squads that reached the finals in 2014 (T20) and the quarter-finals in 2019 (ODI). He will have to perform his dual role of keeping wickets and scoring runs for his team. He will also have to recover from his injury and regain his fitness and form before the tournament. Perera will have to showcase his experience and skills as a senior player and a former captain.

Coach of SRI LANKA Cricket Team For ICC World Cup

The coach of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Chris Silverwood, who is also an English former cricketer. He was appointed as the coach of Sri Lanka in August 2021, after Mickey Arthur was sacked following Sri Lanka’s poor performance at the Asia Cup finals. Silverwood had previously coached England from October 2019 to July 2021, leading them to a series win in South Africa, a drawn series in Sri Lanka, and a historic Test series win in India. He also guided England to the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, where they lost to New Zealand.

Silverwood is known for his calm and composed approach and his emphasis on building a positive team culture and environment. He is also respected for his tactical acumen and his ability to develop young players and improve their skills. He has a good rapport with Shanaka, who was his assistant coach at England before taking up the Sri Lanka job. Silverwood will have the challenge of transforming Sri Lanka into a competitive and consistent team in the World Cup, and helping them overcome their recent troubles and controversies.

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Best Batsman of SRI LANKA Cricket Team For ICC World Cup

The best batsman of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Kusal Perera, who is also the wicket-keeper and a former captain. He is the most experienced and accomplished batsman in the team, having played 107 ODIs and 51 T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. Perera has scored 2,964 runs and effected 103 dismissals (86 catches and 17 stumpings) in ODIs, with five centuries and 15 half-centuries, and a highest score of 153*. He has also scored 1,316 runs and effected 33 dismissals (25 catches and eight stumpings) in T20Is, with one century and seven half-centuries, and a highest score of 110.

Perera is known for his explosive batting style and his ability to score quickly. He can also open the innings or bat in the middle-order. Kusal has played some of the most memorable innings for Sri Lanka in recent times, such as his unbeaten 153 against South Africa in Durban in 2019, which helped Sri Lanka chase down a record target of 304 with one wicket remaining. He also scored a brilliant century against India in Pune in 2016, which helped Sri Lanka chase down 200 with two overs to spare.

Perera will be playing in his third World Cup, after being part of the squads that reached the finals in 2014 (T20) and the quarter-finals in 2019 (ODI). He will have to perform his dual role of keeping wickets and scoring runs for his team. He will also have to recover from his injury and regain his fitness and form before the tournament. Perera will have to showcase his experience and skills as a senior player and a former captain.

Best Bowler of SRI LANKA Cricket Team For ICC World Cup

The best bowler of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Lahiru Kumara, who is also a fast bowler. He made his international debut in 2016 and has played 28 ODIs and nine T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. Lahiru Kumara has taken 43 wickets in ODIs, with a best bowling figure of 4/34, and an average of 30.76. He has also taken nine wickets in T20Is, with a best bowling figure of 2/24, and an average of 27.11.

Kumara is known for his pace and aggression, as he can bowl consistently above 140 kmph. He can also swing the ball both ways and generate bounce from any surface. He has been one of the most consistent performers for Sri Lanka in recent times, especially in Test cricket, where he has taken 67 wickets in 21 matches, with four five-wicket hauls. Lahiru Kumara has also impressed in limited-overs cricket, where he has taken crucial wickets at regular intervals.

Kumara will be playing in his second World Cup, after being part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in 2019 (ODI). He will have to lead the pace attack for Sri Lanka and provide early breakthroughs with the new ball. He will also have to bowl well at the death overs and restrict the opposition’s scoring rate. Kumara will have to display his pace and skill as a fast bowler.

Fastest Bowler of SRI LANKA Cricket Team For ICC World Cup

The fastest bowler of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Matheesha Pathirana, who is also an all-rounder. He made his international debut in 2020 and has played six ODIs and four T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. Matheesha Pathirana has taken six wickets in ODIs, with a best bowling figure of 2/37, and an average of 36.83. He has also taken four wickets in T20Is, with a best bowling figure of 2/25, and an average of 24.75.

Pathirana is known for his raw pace and his ability to clock speeds above 150 kmph. He has been dubbed as the ‘next Lasith Malinga’ by some fans and experts, as he also has a slingy action and can bowl yorkers and slower balls. He made headlines in 2019, when he bowled a delivery at 175 kmph in a school match, which was recorded as the fastest ball ever bowled in any form of cricket. However, it was later revealed that the speed gun was faulty and the actual speed was around 130 kmph.

Pathirana will be playing in his first World Cup, and will have to prove his worth as a fast bowler and an all-rounder. He will have to bowl with accuracy and consistency, and also contribute with his bat in the lower-order. He will also have to cope with the pressure and expectations of being compared to Malinga, who is one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game.

Best Spinner

The best spinner of the Sri Lanka World Cup squad team is Maheesh Theekshana, who is also an all-rounder. He made his international debut in 2021 and has played four ODIs and three T20Is for Sri Lanka so far. Maheesh Theekshana has taken nine wickets in ODIs, with a best bowling figure of 4/37, and an average of 18.22. He has also taken three wickets in T20Is, with a best bowling figure of 2/17, and an average of 19.

Theekshana is known for his rare bowling style of right-arm off-break, which he delivers with a bent elbow and a high arm action. He can also bowl doosras, carrom balls, and googlies, which make him unpredictable and difficult to read. He has been hailed as a mystery spinner by some fans and experts, who have compared him to Ajantha Mendis, who was also a sensation when he burst onto the scene in 2008.

Theekshana will be playing in his first World Cup, and will have to show his skill and variation as a spinner and an all-rounder. He will have to bowl with control and guile, and also score some useful runs in the lower-order. He will also have to handle the pressure and scrutiny that comes with being a mystery spinner, who can be exposed by better batsmen if not careful.

SRI LANKA Cricket Team Matches List For ICC World Cup

Here is the provided information converted into a table format:

FAQs About Sri Lanka Squad for World Cup 2023

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Sri Lanka squad for World Cup 2023:

Q: Why was Mickey Arthur sacked as the coach of Sri Lanka?

A: Mickey Arthur was sacked as the coach of Sri Lanka after the team’s poor performance at the Asia Cup finals in August 2021, where they lost to Bangladesh by five wickets in the semi-final and to Pakistan by six wickets in the third-place playoff. The SLC also cited Arthur’s lack of communication with the board and his interference in selection matters as reasons for his dismissal.

Q: Who are the new faces in the Sri Lanka squad for World Cup 2023?

A: The new faces in the Sri Lanka squad for World Cup 2023 are Dunith Wellalage, Dilshan Madushanka, and Dushan Hemantha, who have not played any international cricket before. Wellalage is a left-arm orthodox spinner and a lower-order batsman, who has impressed in domestic cricket with his all-round skills. Madushanka is a left-arm medium-fast bowler and a lower-order batsman, who has been picked for his pace and potential. Hemantha is a left-arm orthodox spinner and a lower-order batsman, who has been selected for his variety and accuracy.

Q: Who are the key players for Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023?

A: The key players for Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023 are Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Kumara, and Maheesh Theekshana. Perera is the most experienced and accomplished batsman in the team, who can score quickly and keep wickets. Shanaka is the captain and an all-rounder, who can hit big shots and bowl right-arm medium-fast. Kumara is the best and fastest bowler in the team, who can bowl consistently above 140 kmph and swing the ball both ways. Theekshana is the best and mystery spinner in the team, who can bowl right-arm off-break with a bent elbow and a high arm action.

Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023?

A: The strengths of Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023 are their bowling variety and depth, their all-rounders, and their experience of playing in India. Sri Lanka have a mix of fast bowlers, spinners, and medium-pacers, who can adapt to different conditions and situations. They also have several all-rounders, who can contribute with both bat and ball. Sri Lanka also have the advantage of playing in India, where they have played many matches before and are familiar with the pitches and the weather.

The weaknesses of Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023 are their batting inconsistency and fragility, their lack of confidence and form, and their pressure and expectations. They have a tendency to collapse or struggle to chase or set targets, especially against quality bowling attacks. They also have a lack of confidence and form, as they have lost many matches and series in recent times. Sri Lanka also have to deal with the pressure and expectations of the fans and the media, who have been critical of their performance and selection.

Q: What are the chances of Sri Lanka winning the World Cup 2023?

A: The chances of Sri Lanka winning the World Cup 2023 are low but not impossible. They are ranked eighth in the ICC ODI rankings and ninth in the ICC T20I rankings, which reflect their poor performance in limited-overs cricket in recent years. They also have to face some of the toughest opponents in the world, such as India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Netherlands. However, they also have some talented and experienced players, who can surprise anyone on their day. They also have some young and exciting players, who can make an impact with their skills. They also have some hope from their history, as they have won the World Cup in 1996 and reached the finals in 2007 and 2011. Therefore, they will have to play with passion and pride, and hope for some luck and magic along the way.