Despite their exit from the semi-final race of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka is determined to conclude their campaign on a positive note in their final Super 8 match against Pakistan, having navigated the tournament without their injured star bowler, Wanindu Hasaranga.
According to ICC information today, Sri Lanka’s spin bowling coach, Rene Ferdinands, insisted the squad is preparing with full intensity for their last fixture, aiming for a victory to end their tournament run.
‘We want to try to win it. We know that Pakistan is a good opposition. We respect them. But in every sense, we want to try to win. There”s never been any other question. So, we”re always looking to bounce back,’ Ferdinands stated.
A significant bright spot for the co-hosts has been the performance of their spinners. The trio of Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage have been instrumental, collectively claiming an impressive 25 wickets throughout the tournament.
Ferdinands praised their contribution, highlighting their consistency. ‘The spinners have performed well. And so, we were happy with that particular area of our game. Even in the last game (against New Zealand), you can see that they were performing very well… they are not falling short of any of the competition.’
The spinners” success is particularly noteworthy given the absence of Hasaranga, who remains ranked in the top 10 of the ICC Men”s T20I Bowling Rankings. The world-class performer was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after sustaining an injury during Sri Lanka”s opening match against Ireland.
The spin coach acknowledged the significant challenge of compensating for such a high-calibre player. ‘Any team that loses a world class performer is going to have challenges restoring the balance of the team… we have done our best and we have good replacements. And yeah, of course, that”s a challenge. And you never get two Wanindu Hasarangas as one.’
Sri Lanka is set to play their final tournament match against Pakistan in Kandy on February 28.