Player Profile

Emerging batter Keshana Fonseka came through Lancashire’s age-groups and made his first-team debut in the 2024 Metro Bank One-Day Cup, hitting an eye-catching 42 on debut against Middlesex at Emirates Old Trafford.

Fonseka, now aged 19, opened the batting in his first taste of senior cricket.

He started the summer on the Red Rose Academy, but before it ended he had signed his maiden professional contract with the county through until the end of 2026.

Fonseka is an England Under 19s international, debuting for them in August 2023. He scored a brilliant 121 from number three in his first appearance - a Youth ODI against Ireland at Loughborough.

His latest of five 50-plus scores in nine innings for them came in a February 2025 Test Match victory over South Africa at Rondebosch.

Exciting Fonseka was born in Colombo before his family emigrated to England when he was seven or eight. They settled in Salford, and he played his first game for Little Hulton aged nine before being selected for Lancashire Under 10s.

Educated at Bolton School, right-hander Fonseka is happy to bat anywhere in the top order and has a cover drive to die for.

His development at Bolton School came under the watchful eye of their head of cricket Liam Watkinson, the son of former Red Rose captain and coach Mike. He is hoping to follow the same path trodden by Haseeb Hameed and Matt Parkinson, who went to the same school and have gone on to play for England.

Fonseka posted a trio of centuries for Lancashire’s Under 18s and Academy, one each in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

He made his Lancashire second-team debut in 2021, aged just 15.

Fonseka currently plays his club cricket for Hyde when county commitments allow, and in July 2024 played for Cumbria against Lancashire in a warm-up friendly at Sedbergh ahead of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.