Sri Lanka all-rounder and former captain Dasun Shanaka has played a vital role in the development of the Sri Lanka cricket team in recent years. Shanaka was named team captain when many big names had left the team and the team was going through a transition phase. During his captaincy period, Shanaka showed brilliant form with bat and ball and contributed to the team’s victory in many games.
However, in the Sri Lankan team, which was not going through a good phase, Dasun Shanaka was one of the outstanding winners of the match along with players like Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chamira. While speaking to Cricbuzz in an exclusive conversation, Shanaka spoke about how he was given the captaincy of the Sri Lanka cricket team.
Dasun Shanaka As he stated at the time he received the team captaincy, no one was interested in the side. The team was losing to all other rivals. When he was elected captain of the team, his motive was to form a team with the players and stick to the team as a unit. Shanaka wanted to attract the crowd and people to watch cricket in Sri Lanka and they were able to achieve his intention.
Shanaka also showed his happiness with players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka and Matheesha Pathirana who were able to perform well under his reign at the senior stage.
Dasun Shanaka opens up about appointment as Sri Lanka captain
He said, “Look, no one I was interested in Sri Lankan cricket at that time. We were losing against all the teams. So my motive was to build a team with these players, perform for the team and remain as one unit. And we wanted to attract the Sri Lankan crowd and community for cricket, so to some extent we succeeded, right? “I am very happy that someone like Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana have been able to perform well at the senior level after I became captain and Charith Asalanka too.”
When asked about his removal as captain, Dasun Shanaka said that they wanted a young player to step forward and take up the responsibility of captaincy.
“These young people are playing well and it is a good time to leave and I will always be there if they need support. “I can give my advice and they will listen to me too, so I think we need to prepare someone for the next World Cup and I personally think that was the best moment.”
Sri Lanka was also going through a serious economic crisis in its nation when Dasun Shanaka became the captain of the team. Sri Lanka hosted the Asia Cup 2022 when it was going through the lean phase. Sri Lanka ended up winning the tournament under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka and made a big statement in front of the world. The Sri Lankan team played in the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifier and won all their games until the final of the tournament to qualify for the main event.
Sri Lanka also qualified for the 2023 Asia Cup final when the tournament was played under the hybrid model. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan to qualify for the final of the tournament in the super four stages. Sri Lanka also defeated England in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was bound to be a surprise. However, the team finished in ninth position and failed to reach the 2025 Champions Trophy.