Brief History of Sri Lanka Women’s National Cricket Team
Sri Lanka is one of ten teams participating in the ICC Women’s Championship, the top tier of women’s international cricket. The team is managed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), an organization with full membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC). As a national squad, they compete at the highest level of women’s cricket globally.
Historical Highlights – Sri Lanka Women’s National Cricket Team
Red-ball History:
Sri Lanka commenced their international Test career on 17 April 1998 against Pakistan at Colts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, where Sri Lanka registered their first victory in the international Test format. This remains the only international Test match played by Sri Lanka women to date.
One-Day International History:
Sri Lanka women played their first One-Day International on 25 November 1997 against the Netherlands at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, where they played a 3-match ODI series. Sri Lanka lost this series 2-1. This was part of their preparation for the World Cup in India the following month, in which they reached the quarter-final, losing to England.
T20 International History:
Sri Lanka began their T20 International career relatively late compared to Test and ODI. They played their first T20I against India on 28 June 2009 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla, where Sri Lanka faced defeat against the strong Indian team.
Tournament Highlights – Sri Lanka Women’s National Cricket Team
ICC Women’s World Cup:
In the history of the 50-over World Cup, Sri Lanka first competed in 1997, finishing in the quarter-final. In 2000 and 2005, they were knocked out in the group stage finishing 6th. In 2009, they finished 8th and recovered to 5th the following year, in 2013. They finished 7th in 2017 and didn’t qualify in the 2022 edition.
| Year | Position |
| 1997 | Quarter Finals |
| 2000 | 6th Place |
| 2005 | 6th Place |
| 2009 | 8th Place |
| 2013 | 5th place |
| 2017 | 7th place |
| 2022 | Did not qualify |
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup:
In the Women’s T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka Women’s performance has not been as strong as their reputation. From 2009 to 2023, they have consistently finished their World Cup campaigns in the group stage only. The team has yet to progress beyond this initial phase in any of the T20 Women’s World Cup.
| Year | Position |
| 2009 | Group Stage |
| 2010 | Group Stage |
| 2012 | Group Stage |
| 2014 | Group Stage |
| 2016 | Group Stage |
| 2018 | Group Stage |
| 2020 | Group Stage |
| 2023 | Group Stage |
Asia Cup:
In Women’s Asia Cup history, Sri Lanka’s performance has been an up-and-down ride with mixed results. Sometimes they showed outstanding play, while sometimes they faltered at crucial moments. The inaugural edition in 2005 was a bilateral series, where Sri Lanka lost all their 5 matches to India. They finished runners-up in the 2005-06 Asia Cup. In 2006 and 2007, they again finished as runners-up, just short of victory. In 2012, they were knocked out in the semi-final. In 2016 and 2017, they finished in third and fourth positions respectively. In 2022, they fought back and once again finished as runners-up. In 2024 they lifted their maiden Asia Cup.
| Year | Position |
| 2004 | Runners Up |
| 2005-06 | Runners Up |
| 2006 | Runners Up |
| 2008 | Runners Up |
| 2012 | Semi Finals |
| 2016 | 3rd |
| 2018 | 4th |
| 2022 | Runners Up |
| 2024 | Winners |
Asian Games:
The 2014 Asian Games were hosted by South Korea. This was Sri Lanka Women’s first Asian Games participation. In this tournament, Sri Lanka played three games and in that they won two games, with those two wins Sri Lanka finished in third position and earned the Bronze Medal, by defeating China by 5 wickets.
In 2022, the Asian Games were held in China, where a total of 9 teams competed with Sri Lanka. In this tournament, Sri Lanka displayed an impressive performance and secured the Silver Medal in this prestigious event.
South Asian Games:
The 2019 South Asian Games were hosted by Nepal, where a total of 8 teams participated. Sri Lanka advanced to the final with an impressive performance. They faced Bangladesh in the final but unfortunately lost the match by a margin of just 2 runs, settling for the Silver Medal.
Domestic Tournament:
Sri Lanka Women’s Division One Tournament:
The Sri Lanka Women’s Division 1 tournament, formerly known as the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Limited Overs Tournament, is a domestic cricket competition in Sri Lanka. Launched in 2007, it features eight teams, including clubs and armed forces sports teams. The Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club is the most successful team, having won seven titles, and are also the current champions. This tournament plays a crucial role in developing women’s cricket talent in Sri Lanka.
National Super League (T20):
In early 2024, Sri Lanka Cricket introduced the Women’s National Super League (NSL), featuring both 50-over and T20 formats. The tournament kicked off on February 6th in Colombo with the 50-over competition, followed by T20 matches. This new initiative aims to showcase top female cricketers in Sri Lanka, providing a competitive platform for talent development and offering crucial exposure for players. The NSL represents a significant step in advancing women’s cricket in the country.
