 "ICC World Cup Factbox: How Sri Lanka have fared in quadrennial showpiece event over the years")
Sri Lanka, the perennial underdogs since winning the 1996 World Cup, seem to be peaking at the right time before the 2023 edition of the tournament.
The Lankans had to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in India via the qualifier in Zimbabwe in the summer, but have showcased a lot of potential in the build-up to the mega event that commences in a couple of days.
Kusal Mendis is looking good at the top of the batting, and so is Charith Asalanka, who has been a vital player to the team’s middle-order batting.
Matheesha Pathirana will lead Sri Lanka’s bowling attack. The island nation, however, will miss the services of star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga after he sustained a hamstring injury during the Lanka Premier League, and eventually missed the Asia Cup too.
Also missing in action for Sri Lanka will be Dushmantha Chameera, who has been ruled out due to a muscle injury.
Despite their injury concerns, Sri Lanka still have a well-balanced unit that can contend for the title.
Ahead of the World Cup, here’s all you need to know about Sri Lanka:
Titles: 1 (1996)
World Cup recap: After suffering group stage exits for the first five editions of the World Cup between 1975 and 1992, Sri Lanka, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, triumphed in the 1996 edition, beating Australia in the final in Lahore.
Quick Reads
View AllHowever, that has been the only ODI World Cup title that Sri Lanka have won till date, despite reaching the semi-finals in 2003, and enduring consecutive runners-up finishes in 2007 and 2011.
A quarter-final defeat to South Africa in the 2015 World Cup meant it was the end of the road for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, two stalwarts of Sri Lankan cricket who could never win an ODI World Cup.
Sri Lanka began their transition phase following their exit from the 2015 tournament, but the lack of consistent performances and an frequent changes in captaincy affected the team’s performance against the big teams.
Sri Lanka would go onto win just three out of nine games in the 2019 World Cup, enduring a sixth place finish in the league stage with just eight points.
Four years on from the tournament in England, Sri Lanka are one of the dark horses in the 2023 edition with some excellent talent in their squad.
Only time will tell how Dasun Shanaka and Co turn up, as they hope to clinch their first World Cup title since 1996.
Edition-wise performance
1975: Group stage
1979: Group stage
1983: Group stage
1987: Group stage
1991: Group stage
1996: Champions
1999: Group Stage
2003: Semi-finals
2007: Runners-up
2011: Runners-up
2015: Quarter-finals
2019: Group stage
World Cup record: Matches: 83; Won: 38; Lost: 39; Tied: 1; NR: 5
Team records (World Cup)
Highest total: 398/5 vs Kenya in Kandy, 1996
Lowest total: 86 vs West Indies in Manchester, 1975
Individual records (World Cup)
Most runs: Kumar Sangakkara (1532 runs)
Most wickets: Muttiah Muralitharan (68 wickets)
Highest individual score: Tilakaratne Dilshan (161* vs Bangladesh in Melbourne, 2015)
Best bowling figures: Chaminda Vaas (6/25 vs Bangladesh in Pietermaritzburg, 2003)
Sanath Jayasuriya (18 catches)
ODI ranking: 7
Schedule
9 October: vs South Africa in New Delhi
10 October: vs Pakistan in Hyderabad
16 October: vs Australia in Lucknow
21 October: vs Netherlands in Lucknow
26 October: vs England in Bengaluru
30 October: vs Afghanistan in Pune
2 November: vs India in Mumbai
6 November: vs Bangladesh in New Delhi
9 November: vs New Zealand in Bengaluru
World Cup squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka
Travelling reserve: Chamika Karunaratne.
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