Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu believes her side is entering the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with confidence and momentum after a successful build-up that has strengthened belief within the squad ahead of the showpiece event in England.
The experienced all-rounder will lead Sri Lanka at another global tournament as they seek to build on the progress made over the last two years. While the competition features several established powerhouses, Athapaththu feels her team has laid a strong foundation through consistent performances and careful preparation.
Sri Lanka arrives at the tournament on the back of consecutive away T20I series victories against West Indies and Bangladesh. Those results have provided valuable match experience and given the players confidence ahead of the biggest assignment of the year. “Our preparations have been going well. We have won the last two T20I series we played against West Indies and Bangladesh, both away series, which has given our girls a huge confidence booster and some time in the middle,” she wrote in her ICC column. The team also spent time training in Pallekele as part of its preparations for the conditions expected in England. The camp allowed players to sharpen their skills and helped the management finalise combinations for the tournament.
Athapaththu is particularly encouraged by the balance within Sri Lanka’s squad. The batting unit contains a blend of established performers and emerging talent, while the bowling attack combines youthful energy with valuable international experience. “I feel we have a well-balanced squad for this competition. Our top order has worked together for a while and has gained a lot of T20I experience. Hasini Perera has started to deliver around her experience, Harshitha Samarawickrama brings in the solidity, we have a new promising batter Imesha Dulani, she is one to watch, then Nilakshika De Silva brings experience to the middle. We also have a nice blend of youth and experience in the bowling unit, and we are excited to get started in the tournament.”
The captain’s confidence is also rooted in the development of Sri Lanka’s domestic and pathway structures. Over the past two years, the national setup has focused on increasing squad depth by introducing younger players and strengthening the talent pipeline. Improvements at school, district, provincial and Under-19 levels, along with the growth of emerging and ‘A’ team programmes, have helped create greater competition for places in the national side.
Athapaththu, one of the most influential figures in Sri Lankan cricket, has witnessed the transformation of the women’s game firsthand. The upcoming tournament will be another milestone in a career that has spanned nearly two decades since her World Cup debut as a teenager in 2009. Reflecting on that journey, she highlighted the remarkable growth women’s cricket has experienced globally. “I can vividly remember the first World Cup I played in 2009 as a 19-year-old and to go from that point to where the game is now has been brilliant. And what’s more, this is only going to keep going in one direction.”
The tournament also represents another opportunity for Athapaththu to lead her country on the biggest stage, something she describes as the most rewarding aspect of any World Cup campaign. “My favourite part of any World Cup is representing my nation and leading a team who wants to do well for the country.”
With a settled core of experienced players, an emerging group of young talents and confidence generated from recent overseas success, Sri Lanka head to England optimistic about their chances. While tougher challenges await against some of the world’s leading teams, Athapaththu believes her side is ready to embrace the occasion and continue the upward trajectory of Sri Lankan women’s cricket.
(Quotes sourced from Chamari Athapaththu’s ICC Column)
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