### Sri Lanka Cricket's Leadership Shake-Up: Dasun Shanaka Reinstated as T20I Captain Ahead of World Cup In a significant move just months before the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Dasun Shanaka as the new captain of the T20I team, replacing Charith Asalanka. This decision comes as part of the announcement of the preliminary 25-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to commence on February 7, 2026. Shanaka's leadership is expected to steer the team through the tournament, following Asalanka's underwhelming performance and recent controversies surrounding his captaincy [https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/cricket/399150/sri-lanka-announce-new-captain-in-t20-world-cup][https://www.india.com/sports/sri-lanka-announce-squad-for-t20-world-cup-2026-dasun-shanaka-appointed-t20i-captain-replacing-charith-asalanka-8237654]. ### Overview of the Leadership Change and Squad Announcement 1. **Captaincy Change**: - Dasun Shanaka has been reinstated as the T20I captain, taking over from Charith Asalanka, who has been relieved of his duties due to poor performance and leadership issues [https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/t20-world-cup-sri-lanka-sack-charith-asalanka-hands-over-captaincy-to-dasun-shanaka-article-153318044]. 2. **Preliminary Squad Details**: - The preliminary squad consists of 25 players, including notable names and some new faces, as Sri Lanka prepares for the World Cup [https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/sri-lanka-announce-25-member-preliminary-squad-for-t20-world-cup-shanaka-replaces-asalanka-as-captain-7554]. 3. **Context of the Decision**: - Asalanka's captaincy faced scrutiny after he left a tour midway due to safety concerns following a tragic bombing incident in Pakistan, which raised questions about his leadership stability [https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/cricket/sri-lanka-squad-icc-t20-world-cup-2026-dasun-shanaka-replaces-charith-asalanka-as-captain]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Performance Metrics**: - Charith Asalanka's performance this year has been lackluster, with only 156 runs at an average that did not meet expectations, prompting the selectors to make a change [https://revsportz.in/sri-lanka-axe-asalanka-as-skipper-bring-back-shanaka-for-t20-world-cup-2026]. - **Squad Composition**: - The preliminary squad includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, aiming to balance experience with fresh energy for the World Cup [https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/mens-t20-world-cup-2026/news/sri-lanka-name-new-captain-in-t20-world-cup-preliminary-squad]. ### Conclusion: Strategic Shift for T20 World Cup Success In summary, **Sri Lanka's decision to appoint Dasun Shanaka as T20I captain marks a strategic shift aimed at revitalizing the team's performance ahead of the T20 World Cup**. The leadership change reflects a response to recent challenges faced by the team under Asalanka's captaincy, including performance issues and external pressures. 1. **Leadership Transition**: Shanaka's experience is expected to bring stability and direction to the team. 2. **Squad Dynamics**: The preliminary squad's composition suggests a focus on both experience and youth, crucial for competing at the World Cup level. 3. **Future Outlook**: As the tournament approaches, the effectiveness of this leadership change will be closely monitored, with fans and analysts eager to see how the team performs under Shanaka's guidance [https://www.businessupturn.com/sports/cricket/sri-lanka-sack-charith-asalanka-as-t20i-captain-reappoint-dasun-shanaka-ahead-of-world-cup].