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Shanaka Takes Blame for SL's T20 WC Loss: 'No Excuses' After Zimbabwe Defeat

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka expressed satisfaction with his team's batting effort but conceded they fell short in defending their total against Zimbabwe. He admitted the bowling attack failed to secure early breakthroughs and that some of his own tactical decisions were a gamble. Despite the loss, Shanaka stressed the importance of playing with pride for the country regardless of qualification scenarios. He called for more confidence and a better attitude from his team in their upcoming matches.

Key Points: Shanaka: 'No Excuses' for Sri Lanka's T20 WC Loss to Zimbabwe

  • SL posted a competitive total
  • Failed to take early wickets with the ball
  • Shanaka admits to tactical gambles
  • Emphasizes pride over qualification
3 min read

T20 WC: 'We could have done better with the ball, but no excuses,' says Shanaka after SL's defeat to Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka admits his team fell short with the ball and in key decisions during their T20 World Cup defeat to Zimbabwe in Colombo.

"We could have done slightly better. Some of my decisions were a bit of a gamble, too. - Dasun Shanaka"

Colombo, Feb 19

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka admitted his side fell short in key moments despite posting a competitive total, conceding that execution with the ball and decision-making in crucial phases ultimately cost them in their Group B clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.

Reflecting on Sri Lanka's batting effort, Shanaka expressed satisfaction with the foundation laid by the top order but acknowledged there was room for improvement.

"We had a pretty good start, and to be honest, I think the score we put on was good enough to defend. There were a few patches (of the match) where we could have done slightly better, but overall, I'll take that score today. I'm really happy with the way Pathum (Nissanka) and Pawan (Ratnayake) played. I think it was a good total on this pitch," Shanaka said after the match.

Sri Lanka had looked in control after posting a strong total, with their openers providing momentum and setting up what appeared to be a defendable score on a surface that offered assistance to bowlers. However, Zimbabwe's composed chase denied the hosts, as they failed to make early inroads with the ball.

Shanaka pointed to the lack of early breakthroughs and the challenges faced by an evolving bowling attack, while taking responsibility for tactical calls that did not yield the desired outcome.

"The plan was simple, as usual (with the ball). Take wickets upfront. Unfortunately, we couldn't get that started with the ball. It's a bit tough with newcomers coming in; they need some time to settle as well. But no excuses. We could have done slightly better. Some of my decisions were a bit of a gamble, too. It was one of those days where we could have done better with the ball, but again, no excuses," he stated.

Despite the loss, Shanaka emphasised the importance of maintaining standards and representing the country with pride, even with qualification scenarios already in play. He said, "Qualification is always good to have, but every game we play, we want to do well for the country. Yes, we rested Chameera today, but as I said, no excuses. We did reasonably well in all three departments, but I still think we could have done better."

The Sri Lankan skipper also stressed the need for improved confidence and sharper intent on the field as the tournament progresses, stating, "I feel we need to be more confident on the field. That's something we lacked today. Hopefully, we come back with a better attitude the next time we step onto the field."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a neutral cricket fan, it was a fantastic match! Zimbabwe played with such calm under pressure. But I appreciate Shanaka's honesty. No blaming the pitch or conditions, just owning up to the execution errors. That's good leadership.
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Rohit P
Yaar, resting Chameera in a World Cup match? That's a big call that backfired. The "gamble" he mentioned. The bowling attack looked toothless without him. Sometimes you have to play your best XI, qualification or not.
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Priya S
Feel for the Sri Lankan fans. They are such passionate supporters. The team has so much talent but consistency is the issue. Nissanka played a brilliant knock though! Hope this loss doesn't affect their confidence too much.
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Aman W
Good to see Associate nations like Zimbabwe putting up a fight and winning! Makes the World Cup more interesting. SL needs to find a way to handle pressure better in the middle overs, both with bat and ball.
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Kavya N
Shanaka's point about fielding confidence is spot on. Body language on the field was poor after a few boundaries. In T20, that momentum shift is everything. They need to regroup quickly.

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