Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka blamed toxic "external negativity" and unsuitable pitch conditions for his side’s elimination from the T20 World Cup following a 61-run thrashing by New Zealand on Wednesday. The co-hosts became the first team to exit the Super Eight stage after a batting collapse at a packed R. Premadasa Stadium left them with no mathematical path to the semi-finals.
The defeat marks a new low for the 2014 champions, who have now lost successive matches to Zimbabwe, England, and New Zealand. A frustrated Shanaka used the post-match press conference to urge government intervention, claiming that rampant public criticism is severely damaging the mental health of his players.
Shanaka argued that the constant scrutiny from social media and local press has created an environment where success is nearly impossible. He claimed that "people with mics" outside the stadium spread misinformation that infiltrates the dressing room.
Why spread this negativity? Yes, we lost a World Cup, and we know the reasons. The negativity has come to the fore. We will play and leave, but for the players who will come in the future, if the government can even stop it, that's better for their mental health.
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka Captain
The captain’s plea for state intervention highlights the mounting pressure on a squad that has struggled in limited-overs formats since mid-2025. Despite the fan support in Colombo and Pallekele, Shanaka suggested the "anxious" atmosphere has become a weight his players can no longer carry.
20 for 2: Sri Lanka’s Powerplay total against New Zealand—the lowest by any team in the 2026 World Cup.
0.346: The team's dismal win-loss ratio at the R. Premadasa Stadium (9 wins, 26 losses).
30 overs: The total amount of spin bowled in the match, the second-highest in T20 World Cup history.
12 years: The time since Sri Lanka last reached a World Cup semi-final (2014).
Tactically, Shanaka admitted that the team management completely misread the conditions at the Khettarama. He confessed that he did not expect the surface to aid spin so early in the contest, leading to a middle-order limp that saw the hosts finish on 107 for 8.
The captain also reiterated his pre-tournament complaints about "bowler-friendly" tracks. He argued that the best batters in the country were selected, but were stymied by surfaces that offered too much assistance to the opposition's slow bowlers. New Zealand's spinners, led by Rachin Ravindra's four-wicket haul, bowled 17 of the match's 30 overs of spin, tying a franchise record.
Compounding the tactical errors was a revolving door of injuries to key personnel. Sri Lanka entered the tournament without seamer Eshan Malinga and lost superstars Wanindu Hasaranga (hamstring) and Matheesha Pathirana (calf) during the group and Super Eight stages.
You've also got to make fitness a non-negotiable, when you have the number of injuries we've had, it's hard to get a good outcome. Your fitness level influences your injuries.
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka Captain
Shanaka concluded with an apology to the local fans, acknowledging that for many in his veteran squad, this represented the last chance to play a World Cup on home soil. As the team faces a final, inconsequential fixture against Pakistan, the focus shifts to a period of inevitable and painful self-reflection.
