Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage has been appointed captain of Sri Lanka A for the upcoming ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Doha later this month. The tournament begins on November 14, with Sri Lanka A opening their campaign on November 15. The squad includes a mix of emerging players such as leg-spinners Vijaykanth Viyaskanth and Sahan Arachchige, all-rounders Milan Rathnayake and Ramesh Mendis, batters Nuwanidu Fernando and Nishan Madushka, and pacer Pramod Madushan. Sri Lanka A is placed in a group alongside Afghanistan A, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh A, while the other group features India A, Oman, Pakistan A, and UAE. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals of this T20 tournament organized by the Asian Cricket Council.
Squad Composition and Player Profiles
The 15-member squad showcases promising talent, though none have secured regular spots in the senior national team. Several players have recently represented Sri Lanka, including Wellalage, Nuwanidu, and Madushka in white-ball formats this year. Milan Rathnayake debuted in the Test series against Bangladesh in June, while Pramod Madushan last played for Sri Lanka in 2024. All-rounder Vishen Halambage, aged 20, earned a maiden senior call-up but awaits his international debut. Ramesh Mendis last featured in a Test against Australia in February 2025. Viyaskanth, despite competition from Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay, has impressed in domestic cricket, particularly in the SLC T20 tournament that replaced the postponed Lanka Premier League.
Source: Link