🏏 **SL** Crown **Shanaka** T20 Captain Over Asalanka

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Shanaka: 20 wins from 38 T20I captaincies
2🏆 Retains 25-player WC preliminary squad
3💡 Backed by coach Jayasuriya, ex-committee floated
4🔮 Targets T20 WC success as dark horse
5💬 'Shanaka leads to WC' - Wickramasinghe

"Shanaka will be the captain until the end of the forthcoming T20 World Cup"

Sri Lanka Cricket has reinstated Dasun Shanaka as T20I captain, replacing Charith Asalanka, through the forthcoming T20 World Cup. New chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe confirmed the switch after consultations with head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, retaining the prior 25-player preliminary squad. This leadership pivot aims to harness Shanaka's experience for global glory, amid Sri Lanka's white-ball resurgence.

Shanaka's captaincy record stands at 20 wins from 38 T20Is, blending finishing prowess (strike rate 140+) with tactical nous. Asalanka's brief tenure yielded mixed results, prompting the reversal floated by ex-committee. Sri Lanka's T20 history - 2014 and 2012 titles - thrives on seasoned leaders like Lasith Maling, making Shanaka's recall a nod to stability pre-World Cup.

Leadership Leap: Shanaka's Proven Pedigree

Wickramasinghe cited Shanaka's form and coach buy-in, with stats backing: average 25+ as skipper, including clutch knocks. Echoes MS Dhoni's 2007 WC triumph via bold calls; Asalanka's oust mirrors Hardik Pandya's MI flux. Shanaka's ODI hundreds underline all-phase command.

World Cup Stakes: Squad Stability Key

Retaining the 25-man list ensures continuity, impacting Super 12 pools. Sri Lanka's standings rise with Shanaka's power-hitting (140 SR), contrasting Asalanka's struggles, positioning them as dark horses versus India, Australia.