The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has announced the 15-member national women’s squad set to compete in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2024. The Approval for the squad was granted by the Honorable Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Harin Fernando.
The tournament, the sixth edition of its kind, is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in late April and early May. Ten teams are organized into two groups of five teams each. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the ultimate finalists securing qualification for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. The qualifier commences on April 25th and concludes with the final showdown on May 7th.
Sri Lankan team will fiercely contest for a coveted spot in the World Cup, positioned in Group A alongside Uganda, the United States, Thailand, and Scotland. Group B consists of hosts UAE, Ireland, the Netherlands, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
The Sri Lankan team will depart to Abu Dhabi directly from South Africa, where they are currently participating in a white-ball tour.
During their tour of South Africa, Sri Lanka’s squad comprised 17 members. In this 15-member squad, they have excluded Oshadi Ranasinghe, Imesha Dulani, and Prasadini Weerakkody from their recent T20Is against South Africa. However, an intriguing addition was made in the form of 15-year-old left-arm bowling all-rounder Sashini Gimhani.
Demonstrating her potential, Gimhani impressed with a commendable performance, securing 4 wickets from as many T20s in the recently concluded U19 tri-series.
Sri Lanka squad –
Chamari Athapaththu (C), Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshi de Silva, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Achini Kulasuriya, Hansima Karunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Inoshi Fernando, Sugandika Kumari, Sashini Gimhani
Schedule for Sri Lanka’s matches –
Thursday, 25 April, Sri Lanka vs Thailand at Tolerance Oval
Saturday, 27 April, Scotland vs Sri Lanka at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Wednesday, 1 May, Sri Lanka vs Uganda at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Friday, 3 May, USA vs Sri Lanka at Zayed Cricket Stadium