Sri Lanka have been forced to update their squad for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 after Dewmi Vihanga was ruled out of the competition with a right knee injury. The tournament is set to begin on August 28, and as defending champions, expectations will be high around the Sri Lankan camp. Vihanga’s absence comes as an early setback, but the team management has moved quickly by naming a talented player as her replacement in the 15-member squad.
Replacement announced for Dewmi Vihanga
Vihanga suffered the injury during a practice game and has subsequently been ruled out of the entire tournament. While further details surrounding the injury have not been officially disclosed, the setback has forced Sri Lanka to make a late adjustment to their squad ahead of their title defence. Nimasha Meepage has been drafted into the squad as the replacement and will now have an opportunity to make an impact on a major international stage. Her inclusion maintains the balance of the Sri Lankan squad while adding another bowling option to Chamari Athapaththu‘s side.
Sri Lanka will begin their Asia Cup campaign against hosts UAE on August 29. They have been drawn in Group B alongside Bangladesh and Indonesia, with the group stage providing an important test before the knockout phase. Athapaththu will continue to lead the side, while Harshitha Samarawickrama has been named vice-captain. Kaushini Nuthyangana remains the team’s sole wicketkeeping option in the revised squad.
Sri Lanka enter the tournament as defending champions after securing their maiden Women’s Asia Cup title in 2024. They defeated India in the final in Dambulla, and the team will now look to build on that breakthrough success in the UAE.
What does Nimasha Meepage bring to the table?
Meepage may not yet have a huge amount of international experience, but her selection represents an opportunity for the young bowler to make her presence felt. She made her T20I debut in December 2025 and has since featured for Sri Lanka 14 times across formats. In T20 internationals, Meepage has taken six wickets across nine innings. Her current bowling average stands at 38.33, while she has maintained an economy rate of 7.66. Although those figures leave room for improvement, they also underline that she is still developing at the international level.
Her call-up gives Sri Lanka additional bowling depth as they prepare for a demanding tournament. With experienced players such as Vishmi Gunaratne, Sugandika Kumari and Sanjana Kavindi already part of the squad, Meepage will have the opportunity to learn while contributing whenever required. For Sri Lanka, the immediate priority will be ensuring Vihanga’s absence does not disrupt their preparations. With the tournament only days away, Meepage will need to settle quickly into the squad and be ready to perform whenever her captain calls upon her.
Sri Lanka squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2026 (Updated): Chamari Athapaththu (c), Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama (vc), Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Chethana Vimukthi, Kawya Kavindi, Mithali Ayodhya, Nimasha Meepage
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
