Kandy, March 1 – Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka apologized to fans and blamed injuries and missed opportunities after his team was eliminated from the 2026 T20 World Cup, despite a strong performance in their final Super 8 match against Pakistan at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday.
Shanaka played a courageous, unbeaten innings of 76, but Sri Lanka fell short by five runs while chasing Pakistan's imposing total of 212. Although Sri Lanka finished with 207, they could not reach the target, while Pakistan were also eliminated due to net run-rate calculations.
Reflecting on the loss, Shanaka admitted that the game slipped away in the end. He said it was "very close" and felt he could have finished the match, while also crediting Shaheen Afridi for holding his nerve in the final over. Sri Lanka needed 28 runs in the last six balls, and despite Shanaka hitting three sixes and a four, Pakistan defended the total. "It was such a close game where I could have finished it. But, unfortunately, well bowled by Shaheen," he said in the post-match presentation.
Shanaka also took responsibility for lapses under pressure and once again apologized to supporters. "Sometimes, as players, we also feel the pressure. It was my mistake. I wanted to say sorry to all the fans for disappointing them," he said.
Calling it a tough tournament, Shanaka pointed to injuries as a major setback and apologized to supporters for disappointing them. He felt that Sri Lanka could have reached the semifinals if they had a full-strength squad, especially missing two key bowlers.
"It has been a tough campaign for us. We had a few injuries. I want to say sorry to all the fans because unfortunately, we fell down because of those injuries. Otherwise, we could have probably made it to a semifinal," he admitted.
"Missing two key bowlers was a big loss. At times of a World Cup, you need your players to be there. It affects the strength and the mentality," Shanaka explained.
Despite the exit, Shanaka highlighted positives for the future, praising young batters Pawan Rathnayake and Dunith Wellalage for their growth and consistency, expressing confidence that Sri Lankan cricket has a bright road ahead.
“Pawan has been very consistent and is using the crease very well. We also have Wellalage. They are growing, and hopefully they will have a bright future ahead,” Shanaka concluded.
