Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka suffered a major blow ahead of the third and final T20 match of Harry Brook’s series against England. Star leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will not play the upcoming matches for Sri Lanka, raising concerns over his fitness for the much-awaited T20 World Cup 2026.
Sri Lanka will play England in the third T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, February 3. The home team will be looking to avoid a whitewash after losing the first two matches against the premier England team, as another defeat could affect their confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of third T20 match against England
Wanindu Hasaranga is unlikely to play in the third T20 match against England. Journalist Danushka Aravinda said that Hasaranga was scheduled to undergo a minor surgery, putting his availability for the final game in doubt.
“Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is likely to miss tomorrow’s third T20I against England due to minor surgery.” Aravinda wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
BREAKING
Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is likely to miss tomorrow’s third T20 match against England due to minor surgery.#sportspavilionlk #danushkarvinda #ENGvsSL #SLvsENG pic.twitter.com/FB8s63qZRO
– Danushka Aravinda (@DanuskaAravinda) 2 February 2026
Hasaranga has struggled with the ball in the first two matches. The leg spinner has not taken any wickets against England in the series, registering figures of 0/36 and 0/44.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s impact in T20I cricket
Wanindu Hasaranga is one of Sri Lanka’s best spinners in T20I cricket. Since making his debut in 2019, he has consistently broken partnerships and troubled batsmen the world over, especially during the middle overs.
Hasaranga has taken 151 wickets in 94 T20I matches at an average of 16.21 and an economy rate of 7.03. His best bowling performance came against India, where he claimed figures of 4/9.
He adds value with the bat as well. Hasaranga often comes into pressure situations and plays with intent. He has scored 806 runs at a strike rate of 126.53, with his highest score being 71.
Sri Lanka depend on him with the ball in the middle overs. Without Hasaranga, the bowling attack looks weak and lacks the edge required to counter England’s batting lineup.
Sri Lanka to open T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Ireland
Sri Lanka will begin their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo. After this they will play Oman on 12 February and Australia in Pallekele on 16 February. Their final group match will be against Zimbabwe in Colombo on 19 February.
Sri Lanka’s performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup was poor. They were eliminated in the group stage and managed only one win, defeating Netherlands by 83 runs. They lost to South Africa by six wickets and to Bangladesh by two wickets, while their match against Nepal was abandoned due to rain.
The team also struggled in the 2023 ODI World Cup and finished second with only two wins from nine matches. Sri Lanka will now look to turn things around and perform better in the 2026 T20 World Cup.