Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain Kusal Mendis says the side’s immediate priority is building a deeper pool of players and testing combinations ahead of the coming World Cups, rather than settling on a first-choice eleven.
Speaking to reporters before the national men’s team departed for its tour of Pakistan, Mendis said recent T20 matches had given young and inexperienced players valuable international exposure, the Daily Mirror reported.
He set out the target in numbers: a well-balanced core of 15 to 17 players for major tournaments, supported by a wider pool of around 25 to provide adequate cover.
“We have to give opportunities to new players and see how they perform in different conditions,” Mendis said, arguing that combinations should be tested during bilateral and multi-team series rather than left until a World Cup is under way.
Bowling holding up, batting inconsistent
Reviewing recent results, Mendis said the bowling unit had generally executed its plans well and restricted opponents effectively, while the batting had fallen short on some occasions.
He expressed confidence in Sri Lanka’s experienced batting options, naming Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage and Charith Asalanka. Nissanka in particular remained important to the side because of his consistency, the captain said.
Mendis also acknowledged that tactical mistakes and difficulty adapting to unfamiliar pitches and overseas conditions had contributed to recent defeats, saying those experiences should help the players improve.
Looking ahead, he stressed the need to have key match-winners available — citing Nissanka and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga — while simultaneously developing reliable replacements by giving emerging players regular international opportunities.
Sri Lanka play a T20I series in Pakistan before an ODI Tri-Nation Series also featuring the hosts and England. Selectors have named a 16-member squad for the ODI tri-series, with Mendis as captain, following the earlier 15-member T20I squad.
