Sri Lanka becomes the 14th team to announce the squad for the upcoming 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup, in Malaysia from 18th January 2025 (Saturday), and the final of the tournament will be played on 2nd February 2025 (Sunday).
Sri Lanka, led by skipper Vishmi Gunaratne, had a disappointing campaign in the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in 2023, which was hosted by South Africa. They were the only side, alongside the United Arab Emirates, to remain winless in Group 1 in the Super Six stages of the tournament, with four defeats from as many games. As a result, finishing 5th in the points table, unable to make it to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Skipper Vishmi Gunaratne led the run-scoring charts for her side with 134 runs with an outstanding average of 44.66 in five innings, including one unbeaten half-century (60* off 54 balls) against Bangladesh on 16th January 2023 in Benoni.
As far as the bowling unit is concerned, the off-spin bowling all-rounder Dewmi Vihanga was the leading wicket-taker for her side and the joint 5th highest wicket-taker of the tournament alongside Katherine Fraser (Scotland), Mannat Kashyap (India), and Grace Scrivens (England) with 9 wickets at an impressive average of 12.88 and an economy of 5.80 in five innings with the ball for her side in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
As we move on to the upcoming 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup, the leadership baton has been passed on to the 17-year-old batting all-rounder Manudi Nanayakkara, as they aim to stage a strong comeback in the upcoming edition from 18th January 2025 (Saturday). The 18-year-old batting all-rounder Rashmika Sewwandi has been named her deputy for the tournament.
Sri Lanka squad for the 2025 ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup:
Manudi Nanayakkara (C), Rashmika Sewwandi (VC), Vimoksha Balasooriya, Hiruni Hansika, Sumudu Nisansala, Dahami Sanethma, Rashmi Nethranjali, Sashini Gimhani, Asheni Thalagune, Pramudi Methsara, Chamodi Praboda, Sanjana Kavindi, Danuli Thennakoon, Limansa Thilakaratne, Shehara Induwari
Skipper Manudi Nanayakkara, wicket-keeper batter Sumudu Nisansala, Dahami Sanethma, Rashmi Nethranjali, and vice-captain Rashmika Sewwandi are the five players from the current squad, who were also a part of the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup 2023, in South Africa. Sri Lanka has named the same squad for the upcoming 2nd edition of the Under-19 World Cup that participated in the inaugural edition of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2024.
Skipper Manudi Nanayakkara scored 66 runs at a strike rate of 89.18 and an average of 16.50 in five innings with the bat for her side in the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in 2023.
Wicket-keeper batter Sumudu Nisansala scored 29 runs in five innings with the bat for her side in the previous edition of the tournament. Rashmi Nethranjali scored 11 runs in three innings with the bat for her side in the tournament. She also picked up three wickets in four innings with the ball for her side in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
The young Sri Lankan brigade led by skipper Manudi Nanayakkara was last involved in the inaugural edition of the ACC Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2024, in Malaysia. They had a disappointing tournament as they finished at the bottom of the table with 3 points from 4 games, with just a solitary victory against the hosts, Malaysia by 94 runs in the tournament opener on 15th December 2024, including one washed-out game against Nepal led by skipper Puja Mahato in the Super Sour stages of the tournament.
Skipper Manudi Nanayakkara, led from the front as she was the leading run-scorer for her side and the 2nd highest run-scorer of the tournament with 112 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 140 and a mind-blowing average 56 in three innings with the bat. Her best performance with the bat for her side in the tournament includes one unbeaten half-century against hosts, Malaysia when she smashed 74* (40 balls), at a blazing strike rate of 185 in the first game of the tournament.
Limansa Thilakarathna was the 2nd highest run-scorer for her side in the tournament with 58 runs at an impressive average of 29 in four innings with the bat for her side in the tournament. Wicket-keeper batter Sumudu Nisansala was the 3rd highest run-scorer of the tournament with 39 runs in three innings with the bat for her side in the tournament. Sanjana Kavindi scored 35 runs at an impressive strike rate of 120.68 in four innings with the bat for her side.
Rashmika Sewwandi scored 28 runs in a couple of innings with the bat for her side in the inaugural edition of the ACC Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2024. She was also the leading wicket-taker for her side and the joint 5th highest wicket-taker of the tournament alongside Habiba Islam and Anisa Akter Soba from Bangladesh with 5 wickets at an impressive average of 10.80 and an economy of 6.89 in three innings with the ball. Her best performance with the ball for her side in the tournament came on 16th December 2024 against Bangladesh when she returned with impressive match figures (3-0-23-4) in her spell at Kuala Lumpur.
Chamodi Praboda was the 2nd highest wicket-taker for her side in the tournament with four wickets at an impressive average of 12.75 and a sensational economy of 5.10 in three innings with the ball. Her best performance with the ball for her side in the tournament came on 20th December 2024 against India when she returned with sensational match figures of 4-0-16-3 in her spell for her side.
Hiruni Hansika, picked up three wickets, with an impressive average of 10.66 and an economy of 5.33 in three innings with the ball for her side in the inaugural edition of the ACC Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2024. Her best performance with the ball for her side in the tournament came on 15th December 2024, against the hosts, Malaysia, when she returned with mind-blowing match figures of 3-2-2-2 in her spell with the ball for her side. Asheni Thalagune and Pramudi Methsara also picked up three wickets each with the ball for their side in the tournament.
Sri Lanka is placed in Group A alongside India, West Indies, and hosts Malaysia. The Manudi Nanayakkara-led side will kickstart their campaign in the upcoming 2nd edition of the tournament against the hosts, Malaysia on the 19th of January 2025 (Sunday) in the 7th match of the tournament at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur from 8 AM IST.
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