Sri Lanka have been upset in the wake of Dewmi Vihanga’s injury to the right knee that has sidelined all-rounder Dewmi Vihanga from the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026. Vihanga sustained the injury at a practice session, and has not travelled with the Sri Lankan team to the United Arab Emirates, where the title holders are going to open their title defence later this month.
The injury comes as a disappointment for Vihanga who was expected to make her senior international debut. The all-rounder was expected to be part of Sri Lanka’s plans for the continental tournament, but the knee injury has forced her out of the 15-member team. Sri Lankan team management has brought in left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage as Vihanga’s replacement.
Meepage’s inclusion gives Sri Lanka another spin-bowling option as they prepare for a tournament that will see some of the best teams in women’s cricket. The replacement also guarantees Sri Lanka will be in a full squad going into the competition with the same team to defend the title they won for the first time in 2024.
Chamari Athapaththu will once again lead the Sri Lankan team. Batter Harshitha Samarawickrama has been picked as vice-captain of a team of experienced batsmen of the Sri Lankan side. Sri Lanka will be looking to build on their historic success in the previous edition and become a strong force in the women's T20 game.
Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B for the 2026 edition along with Bangladesh, hosts United Arab Emirates and tournament debutants Indonesia. They start the tournament against UAE on 29 August. They will then face Indonesia on 2 September before playing Bangladesh in their final group-stage match on 6 September.
Sri Lanka will also welcome back pacers Mithali Ayodhya and Chethana Vimukthi who were absent from the Sri Lankan side’s recent T20I series against Pakistan in Hambantota, where the hosts had secured a 2-1 series victory. The return of these players will improve Sri Lanka's pace-bowling depth as the team gears up to compete in the tournament on the back of a long tournament schedule.
Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 will be held from 28 August to 13 September in UAE. This will be the 10th edition and the first time the Women’s Asia Cup will be played in the UAE. All the games are set to be played at Dubai International Stadium and in the T20 format.
The tournament will have the top two teams from each group qualifying to the semi-finals. The last four games will take place on 10 and 11 September and the final on 13 September. With many competitive teams in the tournament Sri Lanka will be challenged as they attempt to make it through the group stage and to the knockouts.
Sri Lanka will be the title favourites given their impressive performance in 2024 final. Playing in front of their home fans in Dambulla, Sri Lanka defeated 7-time champions India to win the first Women's Asia Cup title at home. It is the first time Sri Lanka has ever won a women's title and the team has a lot of hope for the 2026 tournament.
Sri Lanka has a lot of experience in their team despite Vihanga’s absence. Athapaththu’s leadership and all-round ability will be key in their campaign and Samarawickrama is another batsman who can play well. Ayodhya and Vimukthi’s return will also help the team in bowling.
Sri Lanka will now look to quickly adapt to the absence of Vihanga in the tournament. Meepage will have an opportunity to make an impact after getting into the team and the defending champions have to hope to go up against the UAE and get through a hard Group B.
