International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 (T20) World Cup action continues in South Africa as it now is almost time for the Women’s T20 World Cup after the intriguing inaugural edition of the Under-19 T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced their squad of 15 for the tournament, which sees as few as 3 changes from the side’s most recent outing that came way back in October.
The Sri Lankan side last played international cricket in October in the Women’s Asia Cup 2022, where they finished as runners-up losing to India in the Final by 8 wickets after making small gains throughout the tournament. The 3 changes see Hasini Perera ruled out of the tournament having faced an injury to one of her fingers during practice, and Rashmi Silva and Madushika Methtananda failed to retain their squad.
Sri Lanka Women’s squad for T20 World Cup 2023:
Chamari Athapaththu (C), Oshadi Ranasinghe, Harshitha Samawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasuriya, Vishmi Gunaratne, Tharika Sewwandi, Ama Kanchana, Sathya Sandeepani.
Following Hasini Perera’s absence due to injury, batter, Sathya Sandeepani whose only Twenty20 International (T20I) appearance was during the 2020 T20 World Cup has been given a call-up. Veteran, Ama Kanchana who last featured in Lankan colours during the Commonwealth Games too returns to the side for the World Cup.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka announces their squad for the T20 World Cup#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/THq23ueg5h
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 1, 2023
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play a couple of warm-up games in their lead-up to the ICC event, one each against Ireland and the West Indies on the 6th and the 8th of February respectively. For rusty Sri Lanka, the warm-up games will be beneficiary as they’ll help the side gain some match fitness and momentum.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka suffers a huge blow as Hasini Perera fails to joins the World Cup squad 😔#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ahH4iEHE7Z
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 1, 2023
In the ICC T20 World Cup events, Sri Lanka hasn’t had the best of runs as the sides only got 8 wins under their belt off 27 outings and this year around will be looking to better their numbers. Placed in Group A, Sri Lanka will compete against South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
The Sri Lankan team will be training under the watchful eyes of former cricketer and fast-bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake after former head coach Hashan Thilakaratne decided to part ways days after the Asia Cup.
