Seekkuge Prasanna

A leg spinner by trade, Seekkuge Prasanna has the ability to chip in with crucial runs down the order. Quick through the air, with a lot of variations, Prasanna is a street smart bowler with an ability to fox even the best in the business.

He worked his way through the Sri Lankan Army team in 2006 and immediately made an impact, taking 3 for 23 on his domestic ODI debut against Lankan Cricket Club. He continued to toil in the domestic circuit, and it wasn’t until 2011 that the Sri Lankan selectors took notice of the wily spinner. Sri Lanka A team toured England in 2011 and in a game against England Lions, Prasanna hogged all the limelight when he captured 6 for 23 to rattle the opposition, which included the likes of Alex Hales and Joe Root.

The Sri Lankan selectors took notice of that performance and the spinner was flown back home to take part in the final two ODI games against the Aussies. In his ODI debut against Australia, Prasanna scalped 3 for 32 and announced his arrival in some style.

The Balapitiya born made his Test debut against the same opposition, and interestingly that was the last time Prasanna featured in a Test match for the Lankans.

He played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s T20I series win over South Africa in 2017. In the third and the final T20I game of the series, Sri Lanka needed to chase down 170 to wrap the series. Prasanna came in at No.5 and gave some lusty blows to steer his side to victory. The pinch hitter slammed 37 off just 16 balls, which included 3 fours and 3 sixes under pressure.

Over the past few years, Prasanna has been in and out of the team due to inconsistent performances and the arrival of new faces in Sri Lankan cricket.

Sri Lankan cricket missed a trick by not nurturing Prasanna enough for him to become a genuine match-winning all-rounder. He had all the tools to be a successful all-rounder, but limited opportunities post 2017 have hampered his career.

(As of May 2021)