Why is Kamindu Mendis dropped from T20 World Cup 2026? Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka answers Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the England series raised eyebrows with Kusal Perera returning and Kamindu Mendis omitted. Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara were also left out, while Pramod Madushan and Dunith Wellalage earned recalls ahead of the T20 World Cup. That said, with the World Cup close by, his workload needs to be managed. But we need a backup for him, and that's why Pramod has come into the squad,” Shanaka said.