Dasun Shanaka has been appointed as the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan, which also features Zimbabwe. The change in leadership comes as Charith Asalanka, the regular captain, has been ruled out of the series due to illness. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando will also miss the series due to illness.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that both Asalanka and Fernando would return home to ensure they receive appropriate medical attention and have sufficient time to recover before future international assignments. The board has termed this decision as precautionary.

Shanaka, an experienced all-rounder who has captained Sri Lanka in the past across all formats, will now take over the reins. His experience is expected to bring stability to the team during this crucial phase. In place of the unavailable Asitha Fernando, uncapped batter Pavan Rathnayake has been added to the T20I squad. Rathnayake recently made his ODI debut in the series against Pakistan.

The tri-series is set to commence on November 18, 2025, with Pakistan facing Zimbabwe in the opening match. All matches will be held in Rawalpindi. The series will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing the other twice. The top two teams will then compete in the final on November 29.

The tri-series holds significance for all three participating teams as it provides vital preparation for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka next year. Zimbabwe has already qualified for the T20 World Cup after missing out on the previous edition in 2024.

Sri Lanka enters the tri-series following a 0-3 defeat in the ODI series against Pakistan. The team will be looking to bounce back and gain momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.

The Sri Lanka tour was initially in doubt after a suicide bombing in Islamabad. However, following security reassurances, the team decided to continue the tour.