Former Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka has been dropped by his side for the upcoming 3-match SL vs AFG ODI series. The star all-rounder was removed as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain last year in December but kept his spot in the XI.
In his first series after being removed as captain, Shanaka scored 15 runs in two matches and was subsequently dropped from replacement Kusal Mendis. However, now, the all-rounder doesn’t even find himself in the squad.
Dasun Shanaka’s consistent failures in ODIs
Shanaka has no one but himself to blame for getting dropped. Ever since making his debut in 2016, the all-rounder has been a liability for the Sri Lankan side. While other teams have Hardik Pandya, Shakib al Hasan, or Mitchell Marsh as their all-rounders, Sri Lanka was stuck with Shanaka.
Not only did he feature in the XI, but he captained 41 matches as well. And the worrying sign for him and Sri Lankan fans was that his record is even worse as captain. In his 8-year career, Dasun Shanaka averages a miserly 22.39 with the bat with just two hundred in 71 matches while taking just 27 wickets at 37.
| Year | Mat | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 100s | Wkts | BBI | Bowl Avg | 5w | Avg Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 9 | 119 | 42 | 19.83 | 0 | 6 | 5/43 | 24.00 | 1 | -4.16 |
| 2018 | 9 | 206 | 66 | 25.75 | 0 | 1 | 1/20 | 39.00 | 0 | -13.25 |
| 2019 | 4 | 143 | 68 | 35.75 | 0 | 3 | 3/27 | 30.33 | 0 | 5.41 |
| 2021 | 12 | 247 | 48* | 22.45 | 0 | 2 | 1/10 | 58.00 | 0 | -35.54 |
| 2022 | 11 | 231 | 102 | 25.66 | 1 | 2 | 1/27 | 68.00 | 0 | -42.33 |
| 2023 | 24 | 338 | 108* | 18.77 | 1 | 13 | 3/28 | 35.30 | 0 | -16.52 |
| 2024 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 7.50 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | – |
Sri Lanka squad for the SL vs AFG ODI series
Kusal Mendis (c), Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sahan Arachchige, Shevon Daniel, Janith Liyanage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga
