The National men’s cricket team is in the process of appointing a new captain for both the ODI format and Twenty20 format. After considering five names proposed for the same, experienced Kusal Mendis has been proposed as the new captain for the white ball format (ODI and T-20 formats), reliable sources said. New men’s team head coach Gary Kirsten is working hard with the players in preparation for the forthcoming West Indies tour and he is keen to have one captain for the white ball format.

These changes are being made with the one-day World Cup scheduled to be held in October next year and the Twenty20 World Cup in 2028 in mind, and new vice-captains are also expected to be named for all three formats, including the Test format. In addition the new coach will be responsible about players’ fitness. Earlier fitness area was considered by the selection committee headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

“Daily News “also learnt that a new trainer will also join the National team and head coach Kirsten is expected to go with his new trainer to develop fitness Meanwhile at a discussion on who should be appointed as the new captain for the white ball formats, Kusal Mendis, former captain Charith Asalanka, Kamidu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage have been considered for the leadership. The final selection will be made based on performance in both formats.

Pathum Nissanka has not been a captain so far and his name has been dropped as the next captain due to his relatively quiet character on the field, while young Dunith Wellalage not being a regular in the relevant formats and not being old enough to lead the senior players in the team, his name has also been dropped, and finally Kusal Mendis, as a player who is a regular in both formats, has reached the top of the leadership waiting list. However his name is also not officially confirmed by the SLC and subject to approval.

Accordingly, the selection committee members have summoned Kusal Mendis last week and informed him to prepare for the new leadership responsibility. But it is believed that he has been emphatically told that he must maintain his attitude and behavior as befitting the leadership, and that if he displays any behavior that is incompatible with it, he will be removed from the leadership immediately. This position will be assigned for a period of one year only.

Meanwhile, Kamindu Mendis is scheduled to be appointed as the vice-captain of both the Test and T-20 formats, and the aim is to prepare him to take over the leadership of the relevant format after the 2028 T-20 World Cup. The vice-captain of the ODI format is to be named either Pathum Nissanka or Dunith Wellalage. However Dhananjaya de Silva remains Test captain for the West Indies tour and selectors already selected teams for the forthcoming West Indies tour subject to approval from the Sports Minister. Both Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka have been removed from the leaderships as per the relevant amendments.

It is said that both of them will definitely be included in the squad of T-20 and ODI formats. Meanwhile reliable sources informed it is very unlikely there will be major changes from the squad for the West Indies tour. selectors will first name the ODI and T-20 squads followed by the Test squad.