Dunith Wellalage to lead Sri Lanka A in ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup
Sri Lanka A will play their opening match on November 15 against Afghanistan.
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage will lead Sri Lanka A in the upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Rising Stars Asia Cup, set to take place in Doha later this month. The squad features a blend of emerging talents, including leg-spinners Vijaykanth Viyaskanth and Sahan Arachchige, all-rounders Milan Rathnayake and Ramesh Mendis, top-order batters Nuwanidu Fernando and Nishan Madushka, and seamer Pramod Madushan.
Although none of the selected players have secured consistent positions in the senior national XI, several have featured for Sri Lanka in recent months. Wellalage, Nuwanidu, and Madushka have all represented the country in white-ball cricket this year, while Rathnayake made his debut in Sri Lanka’s most recent Test series against Bangladesh in June. Madushan, meanwhile, last played for the national side in 2024.
The squad also includes Vishen Halambage, a 20-year-old all-rounder who has received a maiden call-up to the senior team but is yet to make his international debut. Ramesh Mendis, another key inclusion, last played for Sri Lanka in a Test against Australia in February 2025.
Viyaskanth, who has been on the fringes of the national setup for a few years, continues to make a strong case for selection. Despite competition from established spinners like Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay, Viyaskanth has performed impressively in domestic cricket, particularly in the SLC T20 tournament, which replaced the postponed Lanka Premier League this year.
The ACC Rising Stars T20 Tournament begins on November 14. Sri Lanka A will face Afghanistan A, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh A in the group stage, while Group B comprises India A, Oman, Pakistan A, and UAE. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. Sri Lanka A will play their opening match on November 15.
Sri Lanka A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 2025
Dunith Wellalage (capt.), Vishen Halambage, Nishan Madushka (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Lasith Croospulle, Ramesh Mendis, Kavindu de Livera, Sahan Arachchige, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Pramod Madushan, Garuka Sanketh, Isitha Wijesundara, Milan Rathnayake, V Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew
Download Our App