Madushanka Approved as Pathirana Replacement in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Sri Lanka have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 — pace spearhead Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out, and Dilshan Madushanka has been officially approved as his replacement by the Event Technical Committee.
Pathirana is out with a muscle strain in his left leg. Madushanka steps in. Sri Lanka’s Super 8 campaign just got a lot more uncertain.
What Happened — Pathirana’s Injury
Matheesha Pathirana picked up a muscle strain in his left leg during Sri Lanka’s Group A clash against Australia on February 16, 2026. He was immediately flagged as doubtful, and within two days the decision was made — he cannot continue in the tournament.
Pathirana is one of the most dangerous death bowlers in world cricket right now. His slinging, yorker-heavy action at pace is extremely difficult to replicate. Losing him heading into the Super 8, where Sri Lanka face England, New Zealand, and Pakistan, is a genuinely significant blow.
Madushanka — The Replacement
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Player In | Dilshan Madushanka |
| Player Out | Matheesha Pathirana |
| Reason | Muscle strain, left leg |
| Injury Match | Sri Lanka vs Australia, Feb 16 |
| Approved By | ICC Event Technical Committee |
| Approval Date | February 18, 2026 |
The replacement was approved by the Event Technical Committee, which consists of Wasim Khan (Chair, ICC General Manager – Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events & Corporate Communications), Hemang Amin (Tournament Director), and Shaun Pollock (Independent Nominee).
Madushanka had already been named as a standby replacement when the injury first occurred — so this approval is the final green light for him to officially join the squad and be available for selection.
Who Is Dilshan Madushanka?
Dilshan Madushanka is a left-arm fast bowler from Sri Lanka who has already made a mark in international cricket. He is best known for his ability to swing the ball at decent pace and pick up wickets in the powerplay — a skill that could prove crucial for Sri Lanka in the Super 8.
His most memorable moment came at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he took a hat-trick against Pakistan. That performance announced him on the global stage. Since then, he has grown as a bowler and becomes a genuine option in all formats for Sri Lanka.
Key strengths:
- Left-arm angle creates natural variation for right-handers
- Effective with the new ball and in powerplay conditions
- Can swing it both ways in helpful conditions
- Brings energy and variety different from Pathirana’s style
He is not a like-for-like replacement for Pathirana — no one really is — but he is a capable, experienced international bowler who gives Sri Lanka genuine firepower.
How Big Is Pathirana’s Loss for Sri Lanka?
To understand the scale of this, you need to know what Pathirana brings. His slingy, low-arm action generates awkward bounce and his yorker is among the best in T20 cricket globally. He is at his most dangerous at the death — overs 17 to 20 — where he regularly bowls sides out or restricts run-scoring.
Sri Lanka’s Super 8 group includes England and New Zealand, both of whom have strong lower-middle orders capable of going big at the death. Without Pathirana’s death-bowling precision, managing those final overs becomes much harder.
Check out the full Super 8 schedule and Sri Lanka’s upcoming fixtures to see exactly when and where they play.
Sri Lanka’s Super 8 Group — The Challenge Ahead
Sri Lanka are in Group 2 alongside England, New Zealand, and Pakistan. It is arguably the harder of the two groups — four teams who are all more than capable of winning on any given day.
Group 2 Super 8 Overview
| Team | Key Strength | Threat Level |
|---|---|---|
| England | Batting depth, aggressive openers | Very High |
| Sri Lanka | Home conditions, spin options | High |
| Pakistan | Spin bowling, Farhan’s form | High |
| New Zealand | Consistency, smart cricket | High |
Sri Lanka will still have their spin arsenal — and on Pallekele and Colombo surfaces, that matters enormously. But losing a quality pace option at the death changes the balance of their attack.
Their first Super 8 match is against England on February 22 at Pallekele. That is Sri Lanka’s home ground — they know the conditions, they have the crowd, and they will be desperate to make an early statement. Madushanka could play a big role from ball one.
For the latest news and squad updates from all T20 World Cup 2026 teams, stay across all group and Super 8 developments.
Impact on Sri Lanka’s Semifinal Chances
Sri Lanka were already seen as outside contenders — talented enough to make the semis but needing things to go right. Losing Pathirana makes that path harder, but it is far from over. Madushanka is not a downgrade in terms of wicket-taking ability — he just operates differently.
If Sri Lanka’s spinners — Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana — do the bulk of the damage in the middle overs, Madushanka’s job in the powerplay becomes simpler and less pressured. That could actually work in their favour.
Follow all Super 8 points table updates live as the round robin stage unfolds from February 21.
FAQs
Q: Why was Pathirana ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026? Matheesha Pathirana sustained a muscle strain in his left leg during Sri Lanka’s match against Australia on February 16, 2026.
Q: Who replaced Pathirana in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad? Dilshan Madushanka was officially approved as Pathirana’s replacement by the ICC Event Technical Committee on February 18, 2026.
Q: Who approved Madushanka’s inclusion in the Sri Lanka squad? The ICC Event Technical Committee approved it — chaired by Wasim Khan and including Shaun Pollock as the independent nominee.
Q: Is Madushanka a good replacement for Pathirana? Madushanka is a capable left-arm seamer with international experience, including a hat-trick vs Pakistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup. He’s different in style but brings genuine quality.
Q: When does Sri Lanka play their first Super 8 match? Sri Lanka face England on February 22, 2026 at Pallekele in their opening Super 8 fixture.
Q: Does this injury affect Sri Lanka’s chances of reaching the semifinals? It makes things harder — Pathirana is a world-class death bowler. But Sri Lanka’s spin attack remains strong, and on home conditions they are still a genuine threat in Group 2.
