Sri Lanka comfortable with underdogs tag - Shanaka

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said that the experienced hands in his side will make up for the players lost due to injury, ahead of their opening match of the Asia Cup 2023 against Bangladesh in Pallekele today. 

Defending the title they won last year, albeit in the 20-over format, Sri Lanka have lost the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka, severely hampering their bowling outfit. 

“We are unfortunate to miss out on (those) players, but we’ve still got a good side with experience and we are shaping up well, so looking forward to the tournament,” Shanaka said. 
If the loss of those players means they are the underdogs for the tournament, Shanaka said he is comfortable with that label.  

“Last time also we went as the underdogs but still we managed to clinch the trophy. We lost that first game against Afghanistan. There is no pressure at all, we know where we are sitting at the moment,” Shanaka added. 

It is understood that Sri Lanka have added two back up players to the squad, in Sahan Arachchige and Nuwan Thushara.