Seamers Mathulan, Seneviratne named in SL squad for U-19 World Cup

Vimath Dinsara will captain the side, and will have Kavija Gamage as his deputy

Kugathas Mathulan, the 18-year-old fast bowler from Jaffna, has been named in the Sri Lanka squad for the 2026 Men's Under-19 World Cup that begins on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Mathulan has risen to prominence for his yorkers delivered with a slingy action reminiscent of Lasith Malinga and Matheesha Pathirana, and has piqued the interest of T20 franchises including Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

Vimath Dinsara will lead Sri Lanka at the tournament, and will have fellow middle-order batter Kavija Gamage as his deputy. The squad also includes the seam-bowling allrounder Sethmika Seneviratne, who was the team's top wicket-taker at the Under-19 Asia Cup last month, with eight wickets at an average of 15.75 including a five-for against Nepal.

Sri Lanka are in Group A of the 16-team tournament alongside Ireland, Japan and defending champions Australia. They begin their campaign against Japan on January 17 in Windhoek.

Sri Lanka squad for Under-19 World Cup

Vimath Dinsara (capt), Kavija Gamage, Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Dulnith Sigera, Chamika Heentigala, Adam Hilmy, Chamarindu Nethsara, Sethmika Seneviratne, Kugathas Mathulan, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Jeewantha Sriram, Senuja Wekunagoda, Malintha Silva.