Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has instructed national players currently participating in the ILT20 tournament in Dubai to return to Sri Lanka by Saturday (20) to begin joint training sessions with the national squad ahead of two crucial white-ball series scheduled for January 2026.
Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva confirmed the decision to the media, stating that the recall was aimed at strengthening preparations for upcoming bilateral tournaments.
“We have two very important bilateral series against Pakistan and England coming up. We felt it would be appropriate for the players to train together as a group ahead of those tournaments, which is the main reason for recalling them,” de Silva said.
Several Sri Lankan players, including Pathum Nissanka, Mahesh Theekshana, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana, are currently featuring in the ILT20 in the UAE. Nissanka has been among the standout performers in the tournament, while Pathirana and Mendis have both won Man of the Match awards.
De Silva said the decision was taken unanimously by the SLC Executive Committee and has been officially communicated to all Sri Lankan players involved in the UAE-based T20 competition.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to host Pakistan for a three-match T20I series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium from January 7 to 11, 2026, as part of preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.
This will be followed by a series against England, with matches scheduled from January 22 to 27. A three-match ODI series will be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, followed by a three-match T20I series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium from January 30 to February 3.
Another key reason for recalling the players is the involvement of the new national selection committee, headed by Pramodya Wickremesinghe, which has been tasked with selecting the squad for the Pakistan series.
“The new selection committee is set to name the squad soon, and we felt it was necessary for the committee to personally engage with the players before the selection process. These were the main reasons behind this decision,” de Silva said.
Following the England series, Sri Lanka will take part in the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup, which it will co-host with India from February 8 to March 9, 2026.
It is reliably learnt that SLC had earlier issued clearance certificates allowing players to participate in the ILT20 until early January. However, several players, including Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, who were expected to join the ILT20 later in the tournament, will now be unable to do so following the recall.
The move by Sri Lanka Cricket contrasts sharply with Pakistan’s reported approach, with foreign media indicating that the Pakistan Cricket Board has allowed several senior players — including former captain Babar Azam and ODI skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi — to continue playing in Australia’s Big Bash League instead of returning early for the Sri Lanka tour.
