Over the past 18 months, Sri Lanka has experienced an exceptional run in women’s cricket, achieving significant milestones such as series victories over both England and New Zealand for the first time in any format. This period also saw them clinch the prestigious Asia Cup, Silver at the Asian Games, and also go unbeaten in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024.
At the heart of this transformation is their inspirational captain, Chamari Athapaththu, whose leadership has been pivotal in the rapid growth of women’s cricket in Sri Lanka. Reflecting on their recent progress, Athapaththu said, “This time, we arrive in a different zone. Having beaten several top teams during the last 15-month period and winning the T20 Asia Cup, our team has come a long way in T20 cricket.”
Sri Lanka’s crowning moment came during the Asia Cup in July 2024 when they lifted the trophy for the first time, remaining undefeated throughout the competition. Their historic victory saw them overcome seven-time champions India in the final. “The Asia Cup was the best achievement within women’s cricket for Sri Lanka so far. We remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, defeating Bangladesh in the first round, Pakistan in the semis and India in the final,” Athapaththu shared, marking the victory as a landmark in the country’s cricketing history.
Despite never having reached a semi-final in any T20 World Cup edition, Sri Lanka approaches the upcoming tournament with newfound confidence. Athapaththu emphasized the importance of this event, stating, “The upcoming World Cup is going to be crucial for us to make our mark on the world stage. For Sri Lanka and our team, it is a huge platform. We have taken part in many World Cups in the past, and each one is a golden opportunity for us.”
This year, Sri Lanka’s success hasn’t relied solely on their captain. Young talents like Harshitha Samarawickrama, 26, and Vishmi Gunaratne, 19, have risen to the occasion, accumulating 430 and 373 runs, respectively. Both players have achieved their T20I best scores this year, with Harshitha scoring an unbeaten 86 and Vishmi an unbeaten 73. On the bowling front, spinners Kavisha, Inoshi, and Chamari have led the charge, taking 19, 17, and 15 wickets, respectively. Kavisha’s all-round performances have been vital, contributing 205 runs from 13 games, including a half-century at a striking rate of 122.75.
Athapaththu spoke highly of their World Cup squad, which balances experience with youth, commenting, “We have Harshitha (Samarawickrama), Vishmi (Gunaratne), and Kavisha (Dilhari), the youngsters, who can win games for us, while on the experienced side we have players like Nilakshi (de Silva) and (Anuksha) Sanjeewani, while on the bowling side, we have Inoshi (Priyadharshani), who is making waves in the rankings along with a few others.”
The squad that triumphed in the Asia Cup and the one heading to the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE remains largely unchanged, with just one notable addition. Veteran left-arm off-spinner Inoka Ranaweera (38) makes her return to the national team for the first time since June 2024, and to the T20I squad since May 2024. With over 150 international wickets under her belt, including 91 from 82 T20Is at an impressive average of 18.03, an economy rate of 5.86, and a best of 4/7, Ranaweera adds crucial depth and invaluable experience to Sri Lanka’s bowling lineup.
In the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka showcased moments of brilliance but faced tough challenges along the way. Their campaign began with a thrilling win against South Africa, clinching victory by a narrow three-run margin, and against Bangladesh they secured a seven-wicket triumph. However, momentum shifted with crushing defeats against tournament favorites Australia, who won by 10 wickets, and New Zealand, who handed Sri Lanka a heavy 102-run loss. This left Sri Lanka finishing fourth in their group.
This year, they are placed in Group A and are set to open their journey against Pakistan, before facing the formidable teams of Australia, India, and New Zealand.
Squad:
Chamari Athapaththu (c), Anushka Sanjeewani, Harshitha Madhavi, Nilakshika de Silva, Inoka Ranaweera, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Sachini Nisansala, Vishmi Gunaratne, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana
Travelling reserve: Kaushini Nuthyangana