The 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa was announced on Wednesday. Chamari Athapaththu, the team’s regular skipper and star batter, will be in charge.
They will play host country South Africa in the tournament’s opening match on February 10.
Hasini Perera will not be able to play for Sri Lanka because of a finger injury and has been ruled out of the tournament. Her replacement has been chosen to be Sathya Sandeepani.
Sri Lanka hopes to improve on their modest record of eight victories in 27 matches by participating in the T20 World Cup. Their sole victory in the 2020 tournament was a convincing victory over Bangladesh by nine wickets.
In the competition, they are placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.
Athapaththu, the team’s most successful batter in Women’s T20Is, will bet on finishing first. Harshitha Samarawickrama bats in the top order and recently won the Asia Cup 2022 match against Thailand with a match-winning 81 from 69 balls.
Although she has recently been promoted to floater, wicketkeeper-batsman Anushka Sanjeewani has also played as an opener. Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshi de Silva will be in the middle order.
Dilhari is also a good offspinner; he has taken 16 wickets in T20Is. Another veteran all-rounder, Oshadi Ranasinghe, took 23 wickets last year at an average of 15.56.
Sri Lanka will primarily rely on its spinners in South Africa. Their attack will be supported by Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari, orthodox spinners with a slow left arm. With 68 wickets, Ranaweera is the second-most successful Sri Lankan bowler in Women’s T20Is.
Hasini Perera will miss the event for Sri Lanka because of a finger injury he suffered during practice. Sathya Sandeepani has been chosen to take her place.
The team also includes Vishmi Gunaratne, who captained Sri Lanka at the most recent ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. During the U19 World Cup, the player was Sri Lanka’s best batsman, scoring 134 runs at an average of 44.66.
