Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament, have been eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2026 after a 61-run defeat to New Zealand. The loss in the Super Eights, following an earlier defeat to England, dashed their semi-final hopes. After the match, captain Dasun Shanaka apologized to the fans, and calls for the resignation of the coaching staff and selectors appeared in the media.

Hosts' Defeat

Sri Lanka, needing a win to keep their advancement hopes alive, lost to New Zealand by a massive 61 runs. New Zealand, recovering from a poor start (84-5), thanks to a finish by Mitchell Santner (47 runs) and Cole McConchie (31*), scored 168-7, then dismantled the hosts' weak batting response, who managed only 107-8.

Resignations and Criticism

Following the poor performance and early exit from the tournament, pressure is mounting on the management team. Coach Sanath Jayasuriya had already informed the board of his resignation after the World Cup, and now captain Dasun Shanaka and the selection committee may also be asked to resign or be dismissed.

Captain's Complaint

Dasun Shanaka appealed for the protection of players' mental health after the match, claiming that constant criticism from fans and commentators negatively affected the team and undermined their efforts during the tournament. He admitted the result was embarrassing given public expectations.

Co-hosts of the T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka, ended their tournament run at the Super Eights group stage after a crushing 61-run defeat to New Zealand. The match, played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, was a "do or die" situation for the Lankans, who needed a win after their earlier loss to England to keep their semi-final hopes alive. New Zealand, initially in trouble at 84-5, recovered thanks to a captain's innings from Mitchell Santner (47 off 26 balls) and Cole McConchie (31* off 23). They scored an impressive 70 runs in the last four overs, setting a target of 168-7. The hosts' response was pathetic. Their top order collapsed under pressure, and by the ninth over they had managed only 29 runs for the loss of four wickets. Rachin Ravindra (4-27) and Matt Henry (2-3) dominated the Lankan batters, who ultimately finished their innings at 107-8. After the match, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka called the performance "embarrassing" and apologized for letting the fans down. „No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside” — Dasun Shanaka – he stated, pointing to the harmful impact of constant criticism on players' mental health. The defeat sparked outrage among the 35,000-strong crowd at the stadium, who booed their own team. Calls for immediate personnel changes appeared in the media. Coach Sanath Jayasuriya had already informed the cricket board of his resignation after the World Cup. Now, according to reports, a similar fate may await captain Shanaka and the selection committee responsible for picking the squad. Sri Lanka won the T20 World Cup in 2014, defeating India in the final. Since then, Sri Lankan cricket has experienced a period of instability, with frequent changes in the coaching staff and mixed results on the international stage. Before the tournament, the team was criticized for poor preparation, including a series of five losses in six matches against England. Despite a win against Australia in the group stage, the final result proved to be a major disappointment for fans and the board.

Mentioned People

  • Dasun Shanaka — Captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, who apologized to fans for the poor performance and complained about the negative impact of criticism on players' mental health.
  • Sanath Jayasuriya — Head coach of the Sri Lankan national team, who reportedly informed the cricket board of his resignation after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup.
  • Mitchell Santner — Captain of the New Zealand team, whose innings of 47 runs off 26 balls helped rebuild the team's position and led to victory over Sri Lanka.
  • Cole McConchie — New Zealand cricketer who scored 31 not out and, along with Santner, built a crucial partnership in the late stages of the innings.
  • Rachin Ravindra — New Zealand left-handed batter and left-arm spin bowler who took 4 wickets for 27 runs in the match against Sri Lanka.
  • Matt Henry — New Zealand fast bowler who took 2 wickets for 3 runs in the powerplay, contributing to the collapse of the Lankan top order.
  • Maheesh Theekshana — Sri Lankan spin bowler who took 3 wickets for 9 runs in the first three overs, initially controlling New Zealand's innings.
  • Dushmantha Chameera — Sri Lankan fast bowler who took 3 wickets for 38 runs in the match against New Zealand.
  • Kusal Mendis — Sri Lankan batter who was stumped by Rachin Ravindra in the ninth over when Sri Lanka was already in deep trouble.
  • Pavan Rathnayake — Sri Lankan batter who was stumped by Rachin Ravindra in the same over as Kusal Mendis.