Cricket

Sri Lanka Appoints Charith Asalanka as New T20 Captain Ahead of India SeriesSri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Charith Asalanka as the new captain of the national Twenty20 team. The 27-year-old middle-order batsman takes over from Wanindu Hasaranga, who resigned after Sri Lanka's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in June.Asalanka's appointment comes ahead of a white-ball series against visiting India, which begins with three T20 matches on Saturday in Pallekele. The three-match ODI series will follow, starting on August 2 in Colombo.Dhananjaya de Silva remains the Test captain, while the board has not yet announced any changes to the ODI team, currently led by Kusal Mendis.Asalanka has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka in recent years, averaging over 30 in T20 internationals. He has also shown leadership qualities, having captained the Sri Lanka A team and the Colombo Stars in the Lanka Premier League.The Indian team arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday and will be looking to continue their recent dominance over their hosts. India has won the last five T20 series between the two sides, including a 3-0 sweep in February 2022.Sri Lanka will be hoping to use the home advantage to their benefit and put up a strong challenge against a formidable Indian team. Asalanka's appointment as captain is a sign of the board's confidence in his ability to lead the team to success.

Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the captain of the Indian T20 team for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which will feature three T20 Internationals and three ODIs starting on July 27. The decision was made based on Yadav's fitness, consistent availability, and positive feedback from the dressing room, according to chief selector Ajit Agarkar.Agarkar emphasized the importance of having a captain who can participate in all games, especially considering the team's recent struggles with injuries. Yadav's fitness and reliability made him the ideal choice, as he is one of the most consistent T20 batters in the world."He is one of the best T20 batters, and as captain, he is likely to play all the games," Agarkar explained. "We think he is a deserving captain and we will see how he fits into the role."The decision to appoint Yadav over Hardik Pandya was also influenced by Pandya's ongoing fitness concerns. While Pandya possesses unique skills, his availability has been limited due to injuries."Hardik's skill-sets are difficult to find, and fitness is difficult to find," Agarkar said. "We have got a bit more time, and we can look at a few things."Agarkar also revealed that feedback from the dressing room played a role in the decision-making process. The team's overall sentiment was considered, indicating that Yadav has the support of his teammates.The T20 series against Sri Lanka will provide Yadav with an opportunity to prove his leadership abilities. He will lead a 15-member squad that includes several experienced players, such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Dinesh Karthik.Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 internationals after leading India to the World Cup triumph in the West Indies, will return as the skipper of the one-day international team. The ODIs will be held on August 2, 4, and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.