After winning the Women’s Asia Cup earlier this year, the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team will be high on confidence and will be aiming to have a deep run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Veteran cricketer Chamari Athapaththu, who captained Sri Lanka to the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 crown, will continue to lead the side in the upcoming ICC event. So far, Sri Lanka have played 31 matches at the ICC Women’s T20 Cup, out of which they won 10 and lost 21.
The ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 3 to October 20. The prestigious event will see a total of 10 teams take part. The participating teams are divided into two groups of five each: Group A and Group B. Sri Lanka are placed in Group A along with India, Pakistan, New Zealand and defending champions Australia. Each team will play a total of four group stage matches. The top two sides from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka : Asia Cup winners and a dark horse in World T20 2024
The strongest opponent Scotland faced this year was Sri Lanka in the World Cup qualifiers, and they will enter the event as the sprightly underdog hoping to ruffle as many feathers as possible. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, is on the brink of transformation, like a caterpillar about to break out of its cocoon with new wings. While seasoned captain Athapaththu remains the face of the team, the focus this time will be on the youngsters she has long been pushing to the forefront.
The side is a cocktail of age groups that’s managed to hit just the right notes over the past year. The Lankan outfit has called up 38-year-old left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, keeping an eye on the conditions.
The collateral damage appears to be 21-year-old Kawya Kavindi, whose exclusion has hacked down Sri Lanka’s seam bundle. However, veteran Udeshika Prabodhani, 39, will lead the pace attack. The team has adopted a ‘Why fix what isn’t broken’ philosophy regarding its selections and squad choices. Age hasn’t been a factor that the team has fixated on, and its performances have reflected the success of this outlook.
The young players in the batting department have a point to prove, as pressure can sometimes dampen their overall impact on the team. Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshita Samarawickrama — Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup final hero — and Kavisha Dilhari have the unwavering support of their captain and will hope to repay her faith in them.
Sri Lanka has been among the most active teams this year, playing 19 T20Is with just four losses. While a maiden World Cup title may be harder to achieve than its first Asia Cup crown, the side would be disappointed if it didn’t leave a trail of upsets in its wake. Winning this year’s Asia Cup and posing arguably the biggest threat to India and Australia to claim a semi-final spot from Group A, it could almost be forgotten that the team had to take the Qualifier route to the tournament.
In 2023, Sri Lanka beat hosts South Africa on opening night in a final-over thriller at Newlands, and followed it up with a victory against Bangladesh two days later at the same venue. It put Chamari Athapaththu’s side in a prime position for a top-two spot in their group, but defeats to Australia and New Zealand put paid to those hopes.
This year, there is more optimism. Alongside Athapaththu, the likes of Inoshi Priyadharshani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Inoka Ranaweera provide a solid spine, and the team should be high in confidence.
Player to watch out for Sri Lanka : Harshitha Samarawickrama
Making 69* from 51 balls in Sri Lanka’s successful chase against India in the 2024 Asia Cup Final, it was Harshitha Samarawickrama name that was chanted around a rocking Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
A classy left-hander who has improved her strike rate over time, expect Samarawickrama to continue pace from the No.3 position, despite middle-over field sets and tight opposition bowling.
The 26-year-old will make her 100th international appearance across formats at the tournament, but Samarawickrama is in a career purple patch in 2024, backing up the Asia Cup success with back-to-back half centuries in Sri Lanka’s T20I series against Ireland, and runs also in the 50-over format to boot.
Sri Lanka Women’s Squad : Chamari Athapaththu (c), Anushka Sanjeewani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, 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
Sri Lanka Women’s Fixtures : v Pakistan, Sharjah, 3 October, v Australia, Sharjah, 5 October, v India, Dubai, 9 October , v New Zealand, Sharjah, 12 October
Sri Lanka’s Expectation Road Ahead : With Asia Cup Trophy under the belt by stunning usual contenders Team India, Sri Lanka under experienced Chamari Athapaththu can be a serious dark horse in Group A .