One-time formidable Sri Lanka in the recent past has been looking like a shadow of the past. The team that rose to glorious heights under the leadership of Argon Rangatunga and with players flamboyant Rangatunga, Kaluvitarna, brilliant Aravinda de Silva and bowlers like Chamina Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan now struggles winning matches against top teams.
The team has failed to produce quality world-class players following the retirement of Kumara Sangrakara, Mahela Jayewardene, and Tialkaratne Dilshan. It looked very ordinary and lost many matches against most teams. Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herath are not even available now. There is no reason for Sri Lanka not forming a strong enough team as they have very strong school cricket and age level cricket. But for lack of meeting of minds between Sri Lanka cricket board and players the performance suffered a bit. But with world cup in view Sri Lanka has started recovering form with the emergence of some top quality young players. They are expected to perform strongly in ICC T20 world cup 2021.
Sri Lanka have announced their squad for the upcoming edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 that will be played in UAE and Oman from 17th October to 14th November 2021. Dasun Shanaka will lead the 2014 T20 World Cup winners whereas, Dhananjaya De Silva has been appointed as his deputy. Sri Lanka has to qualify for the main round playing in group A with Netherlands, Ireland and Namibia.
Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana has made a last-minute entry. Batsmen Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Kamindu Mendis are also named in the 15. Left arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama and veteran seamer Nuwan Pradeep are also in the squad. Niroshan Dickwala, Kushal Mendis and Danushka Gunatilaka are serving one-year ban for breaking COVID protocol during tour to England. 
Sri Lankan squad:
Shanaka (Captain), Dhananjaya De Silva (Vice-Captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, DushmanthaChameera, PraveenJayawickrema, Lahiru Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana.
The reserve: Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Pulina Tharanga.
Sri Lanka is a good enough team to qualify for the business round. But we are not sure that they have the quality to progress which ever group they move into. But they would definitely spring some surprise. The spin heavy attack will cause problems if wicket favours spin. It will be fun if it turns out that all Asian teams are in the same group.
BDST: 1616 HRS, SEP 13, 2021
SMS
