Sri Lanka A’s Nuwanidu Fernando keen to make most of Tri-Nation opportunity

But with competition for places intense, he is still searching for a regular spot in the national side. That is why the upcoming Tri-Nation tournament in Dambulla means a little more to him.

For Fernando, it is another chance to do what he believes will eventually earn him a longer run with Sri Lanka — score heavily and do it consistently.

“As a batter, the primary target will be to play long innings and establish myself. I need to assess the conditions and plan my innings accordingly,” Fernando told  Sportstar on the eve of the tournament opener against India A.

The 26-year-old has often been one of Sri Lanka A’s dependable performers, and he sees the competition against India A and Afghanistan A as the ideal testing ground.

“It’s a great opportunity for all of us to play competitive cricket against strong teams, and it’s a good platform to test ourselves and improve,” he said.

At a time when many players are trying to catch the selectors’ attention, Fernando is keeping things uncomplicated. There are no lofty declarations, just a commitment to the basics. “I will stick to the basics and hope for things to work out,” he said.

More than anything else, he wants to spend time in the middle and become the sort of player his team can rely on. “I am trying to be in the middle for long and trying to be consistent. The focus is mostly on batting and I want to develop as a batting all-rounder,” he added.

Sri Lanka A’s first challenge comes against a strong India A side loaded with talent and experience. Fernando is well aware of the threat, but he also believes the hosts have a few advantages of their own.

“India A has a great team, a lot of experience. We have to stick to our basics and make the most of the home conditions,” he said.

Dambulla’s surfaces, he feels, could play a significant role in shaping the tournament. “The Dambulla wickets always support the bowlers and spin a bit and we have good spinners in our ranks and we are trying to make the most of it.

“We have an advantage, and we will try to maximise it. India needs to assess the conditions.”

For Fernando, the equation is straightforward. The stage is set, the opposition is strong and the stakes are high. Now it is about turning starts into substantial scores and proving, once again, that he belongs at the next level.

Watch the Tri-nation series opener between Sri Lanka A vs India A on June 9th 2026, from 10:00 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hind), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and Sony LIV.

Published on Jun 08, 2026