Sri Lanka’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2026 has come to a painful end following a crushing defeat against New Zealand in Colombo. After a tournament that showed brief flashes of hope, the national team’s exit has left fans and former players frustrated by a familiar pattern of failure.
Former Sri Lankan allrounder Farveez Maharoof did not hold back in his assessment of the team’s display. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, he described the mood in the country as one of dejection. “I’m going to put it very simple: it’s hurtful, it’s painful and it’s shameful,” Maharoof said.
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The primary cause for concern was the batting. Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 95 against England, and those struggles continued against New Zealand. Maharoof noted that while the pitch was difficult, the batters “gifted” their wickets away. Aside from Pathum Nissanka, who received an unplayable delivery from Matt Henry, every other dismissal was described as “soft.”
The tournament started with promise. Sri Lanka secured wins against Oman and Ireland and even pulled off a stunning victory over Australia, fueled by a brilliant 100 from Nissanka. However, the momentum vanished quickly. Since that peak, the team has suffered consecutive losses to Zimbabwe, England, and New Zealand.
Maharoof pointed out that this has become a “bad habit” for Sri Lankan cricket—delivering one great performance only for hopes to come “crashing down to the earth” shortly after.
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With only a final game against Pakistan remaining on February 28, the focus has shifted to the future. Maharoof believes the time for talk is over and is calling on selectors to make “hard decisions” regarding which players should stay and who should be moved on.
“I expect probably in the next couple of weeks, some hard decisions are going to be made,” he stated. For a team that once dominated the world stage, the road back to the top looks increasingly long.