Sri Lanka Cricket's Selection Committee on Tuesday named a 15-member men's squad for the Asian Games 2026, with Sahan Arachchige appointed captain and Niroshan Dickwella continuing as wicketkeeper.

The squad will leave for Japan on 24 September, ahead of the 10-team T20I competition running from 24 September to 3 October, with matches held at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.

The squad blends senior campaigners with several fringe players, and includes all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne and seamer Nuwan Thushara alongside batting options in Ashen Bandara and Sohan de Livera. Leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth adds a specialist spin threat to the attack.

The group named is markedly different from the one that has just finished a three-match T20I series in England, which the hosts swept 3-0, sealed by an eight-wicket win at Old Trafford on 19 September.

Only Nuwan Thushara and Tharindu Ratnayake feature in both squads. Charith Asalanka led the side in England after Kusal Mendis, the originally-selected captain, and Binura Fernando were ruled out through injury; Fernando has since recovered and been named in the Asian Games squad.

Cricket has featured at the Asian Games three times since its introduction in 2010, and Sri Lanka's record has been mixed. They won bronze at the inaugural edition in Guangzhou in 2010, before claiming gold in Incheon in 2014, beating Afghanistan in the final. However, they left Hangzhou in 2023 without a medal, with India winning gold, Afghanistan taking silver and Bangladesh securing bronze.

Sri Lanka will be aiming to return to the podium for the first time since that 2014 triumph when the competition gets underway later this month.

Sri Lanka squad: Sahan Arachchige, Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sineth Jayawardena, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sohan de Livera, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Ratnayake, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushan Hemantha, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Garuka Sanketh