Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka escapes sacking after quitting Pakistan tour following bomb blast
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After the bomb blast threatened the lives of cricketers, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, who was also sick, was among the first people to leave the country, irrespective of the consequences that the Sri Lankan Cricket Board threatened to take against the players.
Just a few weeks back, Pakistan again made it to the headlines for another attack on its territory. After a bomb blast in Islamabad shook the city, Sri Lankan cricketers who were playing at Rawalpindi were terrified by mishappenings.
Sri Lanka arrived in Pakistan during the second week of November and played a three-match ODI series from the 11th to the 16th of November. This series was to be followed by the Tri-series, which PCB is hosting for the first time.
Sri Lanka captain not to be sacked?
Sri Lankan players were shaken by the shockwaves of the massive bomb blast that took place in Islamabad, and during that time, many cricketers wanted to return to their nation since they were not convinced by any security measures adopted by the PCB.
Since the return of players would lead to a huge humiliation for the Pakistan Cricket Board, they warned the Sri Lankan Cricket Board against allowing anything such to their players. Similarly, the Lankans also announced that they will have to stay and continue, and anyone who comes back would have to face the consequences.
Though many stayed back, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka decided to return to his country because he was also sick. It was reported that he would be sacked as the skipper after returning back home, but the SLC selection committee chief Upul Tharanga has suggested otherwise.
"No decision has yet been taken to remove Charith Asalanka from the captaincy," confirmed the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Chairman Upul Tharanga.
BREAKING NEWS 🚨
— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) November 26, 2025
No decision has yet been taken to remove Charith Asalanka from the captaincy – Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Chairman Upul Tharanga#sportspavilionlk #danushkaaravinda #charithasalanka #SLvsPAK pic.twitter.com/Gqzr73qaEz
Can the former Asia Cup-winning captain lead Sri Lanka to the Tri-series finals?
Ever since Charith Asalanka departed, the former Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka was appointed as their captain for the T20I series between Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and them.
Zimbabwe were roped in as the third side, after Afghanistan withdrew from the series following a series of attacks on their territory that killed innocent civilians as well as cricketers from the ACB.
Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwe skipper, had shown a ton of positivity, claiming to reach the finals of the competition. They did not have a bad start, as, despite a loss to Pakistan, they defeated Sri Lanka in their next.
Sri Lanka bounced back only after 3 games, when they had already lost 2 games, and losing the third would mean exit. Pathum Nissanka's 98 led the way as Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe in the second encounter between the two sides.
Under Asia Cup-winning skipper Dasun Shanaka's leadership, Sri Lanka will have to beat Pakistan in the final group-stage game to qualify for the finals, which Pakistan has already reached with 3 straight wins.
None other than Pathum Nissanka has crossed even the 50-run mark after 3 games in the series
Sri Lanka's batting performance in this T20I tri-series has been horrifying. The only batter who makes it to the top 10 list of run-getters in the series is Pathum Nissanka, and that too after his 98* in the last game. He is now placed 5th with an overall 115 runs.
He is the only Sri Lankan batter to have gone past 50 or more runs, combining all matches in the series. The next best batter in Sri Lanka's XI is J. Liyanage, who has played just one inning for them.
Pathum Nissanka averages 57.50 in the series, while all other Sri Lankan batters average below 20 in the series. Wanindu Hasaranga has been the best bowler on show for Sri Lanka with 5 wickets and an economy below 7.
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