Sri Lanka's best playing XI for Asia Cup 2023

Sri Lanka have announced their 15-member squad for the 2023 Asia Cup. Some key players such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, and Dilshan Madushanka won’t participate in the competition due to injuries. While Avishka Fernando picked up COVID-19 and got ruled out of the tournament.

With the absence of pivotal players in the squad, there will be a responsibility on these 15 players to showcase their mettle and help their team retain the coveted trophy. On August 31, they will lock horns with Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Stadium and kick off their 2023 Asia Cup campaign. 

Here is Sri Lanka’s strongest XI for the Asia Cup 2023

1. Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka will handle the role of an opener in the team. The right-handed batter has scored 1264 runs with three tons and nine half-centuries in 34 ODIs. This year, Nissanka is in fine form as he has chalked up 687 runs with a couple of tons and five fifties in 14 ODIs. 

In June 2023, Sri Lanka hosted Afghanistan for a three-match ODI series and they began the competition with a six-wicket loss in the first match in Hambantota. Following that game, Sri Lanka came back strongly against the Afghan side and won the series. In this success, Nissanka played a vital role with his bat.

In the second ODI, the 25-year-old scored 43 off 56 while in the final game, he chipped in with a half-century. The Sri Lanka stalwart concluded the series as the second-leading run-getter with 132 runs in three matches. In this Asia Cup, he will be expected to do wonders with his bat so that Sri Lanka can instil fear among the opponents in the marquee one-day event. With his great batting prowess, Nissanka takes the top spot in Sri Lanka's best playing XI for Asia Cup 2023.