The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, known as the Lions, is a team that has made significant contributions to the game of cricket. They have won several major tournaments, including the ODI World Cup in 1996 and the T20 World Cup in 2014. The team is known for its strong batting and bowling lineups, with players such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Muttiah Muralitharan setting several records. The team is currently led by Dasun Shanaka in limited-overs cricket and Dimuth Karunaratne in Test cricket.
SRI LANKA CRICKET TEAM
| FULL NAME | Sri Lanka National Cricket Team |
| NICKNAME | The Lions |
| FOUNDED | 1975 |
| TEAM OWNED BY | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| MAIN PLAYERS | Dasun Shanaka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa. |
| West Indies Cricket Team Facebook | @srilankacricket |
| West Indies Cricket Team Twitter | @OfficialSLC |
| West Indies Cricket Team Instagram | @officialslc |
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FIXTURES
SRI LANKA CRICKET ODI SQUAD
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE | STYLE | JERSEY NO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dasun Shanaka | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium | 7 |
| Danushka Gunathilaka | Allrounder | Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: Right-arm off-break | 70 |
| Niroshan Dickwella | Wicketkeeper | Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: – | 48 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | Wicketkeeper | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right-arm off-break | 36 |
| Asitha Fernando | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium fast | 78 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Fast | 5 |
| Charith Asalanka | Allrounder | Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: Right-arm off-break | 72 |
| Sahan Arachige | Batter | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Legbreak | 10 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Legbreak | 49 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right-arm off-break | 75 |
| Avishka Fernando | Batter | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium fast | 28 |
| Nuwanidu Fernando | Batter | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right-arm off-break | 27 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium fast | 29 |
| Lahiru Kumara | Bowler | Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Fast | 8 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Left arm Medium fast | 98 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium Fast | 81 |
| Pathum Nissanka | Batter | Batting: Right-hand bat | 18 |
| Pramod Madushan | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium fast | – |
| Kasun Rajitha | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Medium fast | 65 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Offbreak | 61 |
| Jeffrey Vandersay | Bowler | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Legbreak | 46 |
| Dunith Wellalage | Bowler | Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: Slow Left arm Orthodox | 1 |
| Angelo Mathews | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowler: Right arm Medium | 69 |
| Kusal Mendis (Captain) | Wicketkeeper | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowler: Legbreak | 13 |
| Kusal Perera | Batter | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm offbreak | 55 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Batter | Batting: Left-hand bat Bowler: Right arm Medium | 16 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | Wicketkeeper | Batting: Right-hand bat | 23 |
| Shevon Daniel | Batter | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm offbreak | 11 |
| Dushan Hemantha | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowler: Legbreak | 34 |
| Janith Liyanage | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowler: Right arm Medium | 67 |
| Akila Dananjaya | Allrounder | Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm offbreak, Legbreak | 4 |
ABOUT THE SRI LANKA CRICKET TEAM
Test Captian – Dimuth Karunaratne
ODI and T20I Captain: Dasun Shanaka
Team manager: Mahinda Halangoda
Head coach: Chris Silverwood
Spin Bowling coach: Piyal Wijetunge
Fast Bowling Coach (ODI & T20 temporarily): Lasith Malinga
Fast Bowling Coach (Test): Dharshana Gamage
Fielding coach: Anton Roux
Physiotherapist: Brett Harrop
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A Sri Lankan team first played international cricket as Ceylon in 1926-27. Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972, they featured in the inaugural edition of the ODI World Cup in 1975. Sri Lanka was awarded Test cricket status in 1981 and played their first Test match against England at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo, in February 1982. Bandula Warnapura was the captain in Sri Lanka’s first Test, which England won by 7 wickets
Sri Lanka’s first Test win came in September 1985, when they beat India by 149 runs at the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo, under the leadership of Duleep Mendis. The Lankans went on to win the Test series 1-0. Their next Test series win came seven years later, against New Zealand in December 1992. They subsequently beat England by one wicket in a one-off Test.
The cricket world took notice of Sri Lanka’s talent when they lifted the ODI World Cup in 1996, just 14 years after being granted Test status. They were among the pioneers in exploiting the one-day field restrictions in the first 15 overs. The island nation remained a strong force in the game in the coming years. They also won the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship, defeating Pakistan in the final by an innings and 175 runs.
Sri Lanka made consecutive World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011, ending up as runners-up both times. They also won the T20 World Cup in 2014 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002. They lifted the Asia Cup for the sixth time in 2022.
Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda De Silva, Lasith Malinga, Chaminda Vaas, Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapattu, Angelo Matthews, Duleep Mendis are considered among the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers of all time.
RECORDS BY TEAM
- Highest innings total in Test matches (952/6 declare) – vs India in Colombo (RPS), August 1997
- Highest partnership in Test cricket (624) – 3rd wicket, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene vs South Africa, Colombo, July 2006
- Fastest to 12000 Test runs (224 innings) – Kumar Sangakkara vs New Zealand in Wellington, January 2015
- Most international wickets (1347) – Muttiah Muralitharan
- Most five wickets in an innings in Tests (67) – Muttiah Muralitharan
- Most ten-wicket hauls in a Test match (22) – Muttiah Muralitharan
- Most consecutive ten-wicket hauls in Test (4) – Muttiah Muralitharan
- Most fours in a one-day innings (56) vs Netherlands in Amstelveen, July 2006
- Best bowling figures in an ODI innings (8/19) – Chaminda Vaas vs Zimbabwe in Colombo (SSC), December 2001
MAJOR STADIUMS
- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Galle International Stadium, Galle
- Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
- P. Sara Oval, Colombo
- Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
- Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
- Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Matale
TROPHIES AND AWARD
Below is a list of major tournaments won by the Sri Lankan cricket team across formats:
| Year | Trophy / Award |
| 1986 | Asia Cup |
| 1996 | ODI World Cup |
| 1997 | Asia Cup |
| 2002 | Champions Trophy |
| 2004 | Asia Cup |
| 2008 | Asia Cup |
| 2014 | T20 World Cup, Asia Cup |
| 2022 | Asia Cup |
Sri Lanka Cricket Address – Sri Lanka Cricket, 35, Maitland Place, Colombo, 07000, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94112681601-4
Email Address – info@srilankacricket.lk
Sri Lanka Cricket official website – https://srilankacricket.lk/
TOP CRICKET ASSOCIATIONS IN SRI LANKA
Colombo Cricket Club
Address – GYMKHANA CLUB, No.31, Maitland Crescent, Colombo 07, 00700, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – 011-2691025
Website – https://gymkhanaclub.lk/
Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club
Address – WV37+G34, Philip Gunewardena Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 112 692 550
Colts Cricket Club (Colombo)
Address – No 17, Park Road, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 11 2581633
Email Address – colombocoltscc@yahoo.com
Website – www.colombocolts.lk
Kandy Customs Cricket Club (Kandy)
Address – SL Customs Times Building, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 11 232 0118
Moors Sports Club
Address – 50 Muttiah Rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 112 304 224
GALLERY
FAQs about the Sri Lanka cricket team
Former captain Kumar Sangakkara holds several Sri Lankan batting records and is considered the best player from the island nation.
The Sri Lankan cricket team currently holds several world records, including the world record for the highest team total in Test cricket.
Shammi Silva is the President of Sri Lanka Cricket, while Mohan de Silva is the Secretary
Cricket. Apart from World Cups, they won the Asia Cup in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and 2022.
Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana are among the most successful players of 2022.
Matheesha Pathirana is considered the fastest bowler in Sri Lankan cricket right now.
Current limited-overs captain Dasun Shanaka is considered the best T20 captain in Sri Lanka.
With a world record of 1347 international wickets, Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka.
Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga is often called the yorker king of world cricket.
Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup, is considered Sri Lanka’s greatest captain.