T20 World Cup 2024: Group D preview – South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands & Nepal fixtures & players to watch

ICC T20 world ranking: Eighth

T20 World Cup appearances: Eight

Best T20 World Cup performance: Winners (2014)

Captain: Wanindu Hasaranga

Head coach: Chris Silverwood

Form (most recent last): LWLWL

Group fixtures (all times BST): South Africa (3 June, 15:30), Bangladesh (8 June, 01:30), Nepal (12 June, 00:30) & Netherlands (17 June, 01:30)

Batter to watch: Kusal Mendis

The inventive right-handed batter stamped his authority on last year’s 50-over World Cup in India and will be hoping to do the same in the Caribbean.

He has scored nearly 1,200 runs in this World Cup cycle, nearly 500 more than the next Sri Lankan.

As a right-hander he will be targeted, particularly in these conditions with left-arm spin, but he excels against it, averaging 41 across his career. That is his highest of any bowling technique.

Bowler to watch: Matheesha Pathirana

The right-arm fast bowler has been turning into Sri Lanka great Lasith Malinga both in a numerical and style sense.

His bowling action achieves similar levels of speed, dip and destruction.

Across this Indian Premier League season, before a small injury, Pathirana took 13 wickets at an average of 13, blowing top orders away in the powerplay and crushing toes at the death.

With speeds touching 93mph, Pathirana could be the bowler to watch in the tournament.