The 2014 champions faced heavy backlash after losing five of six limited-overs matches to England before the tournament. Their struggles continued as New Zealand defeated them in the Super Eights, knocking Sri Lanka out of the competition.

Shanaka apologised to fans for the “embarrassing” performance but warned that persistent negativity was affecting players’ well-being. He urged authorities to take steps to protect the mental health of current and future cricketers.

Chasing 169, Sri Lanka collapsed to 46-5 in the 11th over and never recovered. Shanaka said everyone goes onto the field with the intention of playing well and winning, and nobody deliberately fails.

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Injuries to key bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, and Ehsan Malinga added to the team’s woes. Shanaka stressed that fitness should be non-negotiable, as poor fitness contributes to injuries and affects overall team performance.

Former captain Kumar Sangakkara warned that Sri Lanka risks becoming irrelevant in world cricket if changes are not made. He said the team needs urgent reforms at all levels and must adapt to the evolving cricketing world to remain competitive.