Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka is likely to step down as a captain before the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 following the Islanders' humiliating loss in the 2023 Asia Cup final against India, reported Rev Sports on Wednesday.
Despite missing out on many key players Wanindu Hasaringa, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka and others, Shanaka-led Sri Lanka exceeded expectations by making it to the final of the Asian event.
The Islanders beat Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on their road to the final but were battered by the Blues as they were all out for just 50 runs after choosing to bat first.
Former Indian cricketer Harsha Bhogle weighed on the report saying that he hopes that Shanaka was not pushed to leave the captaincy.
“Reports that Dasun Shanaka is likely to step down as Sri Lanka's captain. I hope he wasn't pushed. He is a good man and a fine leader but it is always tricky when the captain isn't pulling his weight,” Bhogle said.
Shanaka’s individual performance in the Asian event was a mix of ups and downs. While the skipper failed to deliver with the bat, scoring just 54 runs, he did his job perfectly as a captain.
Here's what Dasun Shanaka said while speaking on Sri Lanka's YouTube channel ahead of the Asia Cup final:
“I need to be calm and cool whenever the decisions should be made. I must be thankful to the selectors for keeping trust in me and also backing me and my coaching staff for giving me the confidence to be the leader to deliver the maximum out of me, so I am very grateful to them.”
It must be noted that the 32-year-old turned the Sri Lankan side into a formidable unit. It was under his leadership the Islanders clinched the 2022 T20 Asia Cup after beating Pakistan in the final.
And now, with Shakana stepping down as a captain just 15 days before the World Cup 2023 starts, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board is met with a dilemma to find a new captain for an injury-riddled squad.
- Harsha Bhogle
