In a major development, UP Warriorz have suffered another setback following the loss of their captain, Alyssa Healy, as key Sri Lankan batter, Chamari Athapaththu, is set to exit the franchise midway through the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL). Athapaththu will captain Sri Lanka in their limited-overs series against New Zealand, which begins on March 4.
It is understood that Chamari Athapaththu will be part of the Deepti Sharma-led UP Warriorz squad until February 26. As a result, she will exit the team after their fourth game of the season, which is against the defending WPL champions, Mumbai Indians.
The Warriors have played one encounter in the third season, but Athapaththu was warming the bench in the game where they lost to Gujarat Giants. Sri Lanka Cricket announced a 16-player squad for the New Zealand tour, with Chamari Athapaththu set to lead. The team is set to depart for New Zealand on February 22 to compete in a series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.
However, the story is not identical for another player who could’ve also featured in the bilateral series between the White Ferns and the Lankans.
ICC Player of year and the recipient of the illustrious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr has opted to protiotize WPL and will miss the bilateral series. Kerr, the only New Zealand player, will continue to play for the Mumbai Indians in the ongoing WPL. If MI reach the knockouts of the tournament, Kerr will also miss the first two T20s that are to be played on the 14th and 16th of March in Christchurch.
In 2024, Kerr had even missed the home bilateral series against England in the shortest format to remain available for entirety. Then, RCB and UP Warriorz faced a similar challenge with England’s Heather Knight and Lauren Bell pulling out of the tournament entirely to prioritize their bilateral series.
On the brighter side, the situation has improved compared to last year, with the ECB confirming that no international fixtures will clash with the WPL season. The WPL, which is currently played in February and March, will now be played in January and February from 2026 onwards, as per the new women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP).
Franchise cricket schedules have also shifted in the world as the Hundred and the Women’s Big Bash League have been provided with different windows as well.
(Inputs sourced from ESPN Cricinfo)
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