Chamari Athapaththu has achieved career-best ratings in all three categories of the latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, with the Sri Lanka captain’s rise coming during her team’s impressive start to the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates for the first time from 28 August to 13 September, the sixth edition of the continental tournament has already delivered rankings boost for several Sri Lankan players as they begin their title defence in style.
Athapaththu was central to Sri Lanka’s nine-wicket victory over the UAE in Dubai on 29 August. The experienced all-rounder claimed a crucial wicket before guiding her side to victory with an unbeaten 48. Her influential performance has helped her climb to sixth among T20I batters, 33rd among bowlers and third in the all-rounder rankings, with new career-best ratings across all three categories.
The latest achievement further underlines Athapaththu’s importance to Sri Lanka’s limited-overs ambitions. The 36-year-old had already enjoyed a productive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year, scoring 172 runs and taking three wickets. Her consistency with both bat and ball has made her one of the most influential players in the women’s game and a key figure in Sri Lanka’s bid to retain the Asia Cup title.
Athapaththu is not the only Sri Lankan player to benefit from the team’s strong start. Imesha Dulani has moved up four places to 18th among T20I batters, while Harshita Samarawickrama has gained one spot to reach 23rd. The country’s progress also extends to the bowling rankings, where left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari has risen five places to 23rd.
Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter has also made ground, climbing two positions to 37th among T20I bowlers after claiming two wickets against Indonesia. Pakistan’s Tuba Hassan has moved up two places to share 46th position with Bangladesh’s Sultana Khatun, while Sri Lanka’s Mithali Ayodhya has climbed 18 spots to 70th with 444 points.
The latest update also reflects the growing global reach of women’s T20I cricket. Isle of Man’s Lucy Barnett has risen 12 places to share 67th among batters with Bangladesh’s Dilara Akter, with both players holding 394 points. Romania’s Rebecca Blake has made one of the biggest gains in the batting list, surging 46 places to share 89th with West Indies player Jannillea Glasgow on 333 points.
India’s emerging players have also featured prominently. Kranti Gaud has climbed six places to share 83rd among T20I bowlers with Thailand’s Sunida Chaturongrattana, while Shree Charani has advanced 15 places to share 81st among all-rounders with Zimbabwe’s Kelis Ndhlovu and Namibia’s Mekelaye Mwatile on 66 points.
With the Asia Cup continuing in the UAE, further movement is likely in the rankings. For Sri Lanka, Athapaththu’s new career highs and the progress of her teammates offer an early indication that their title defence could be driven not only by experience, but also by growing depth across the squad.
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