Destiny of progression in women’s cricket rests in hands of Hashan and Apsari

Hashan and Apsari Tillakaratne 

By Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane

It is very rare in native Sri Lanka that a husband-wife duo in any sphere is found to have contributed yeoman service so massively to our motherland like Hashan and Apsari Tillakaratne. Apsari Tillakaratne, nee Sinhabahu, has tirelessly contributed to Sri Lanka’s cause in women’s cricket, which too is gathering momentum like the men’s game that had begun in 1877. 

The fate of Sri Lanka women’s cricket is now in the hands of former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Hashan Tillakaratne, the new head coach of the women’s cricket team (replacing Harsha de Silva). His wife Apsari, who hunted for talent in remote areas, and meeting school principals tirelessly until June this year when her contract expired and was very sadly not renewed. During this period, Apsari succeeded in the evolution of the outstation areas, fostering cricket amongst mostly the rural schools. 

It has been confirmed that via Apsari’s intervention eight young girls were able to be selected to the squad of 17 players that headed of the women’s World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe last month. However due to a COVID-19 scare the preliminary qualifying matches in Harare were cancelled, which led to Sri Lanka missing out on qualification. Owing to flight delays, the team, after spending several days stranded in Harare, arrived back in Sri Lanka only last Friday. They are currently in a ‘bio bubble’ prior to another tour. It is learnt that an invitation 50-over tournament for women is in the process of being organised with four teams participating.

Apsari, who was assigned as Convenor Women’s Cricket by SLC, said that she was primarily engaged with the Development Squad. 

“My job is to tap the talent at the grassroots level and bring them up to the national standard. The players I prepare are for the Development Squad, which sort of acts as a feeder to the national team.”

Apsari added: “We did the Development Squad for two years and 70% of the players who were in that squad are the ones who are playing in the national team today. Of course, as in every sport we lost a lot of ground over the past two years due to COVID.

“The newcomers are all at home and they have been sending messages to me saying ‘we are getting old, what do we do?’” The goal of the SLC is to absorb 20 girls to devise the Development Squad.

At the moment, thanks to talent scouting initiatives there is a far greater pool of players to choose from, which has also led to good competition for places. This comes through a new pathway via the district and provinces.

However Apsari added that there were a lot of gifted players, but because of the pandemic their progress had been hindered. 

“There is no SLC district or provincial tournament because of the pandemic, and so their growth has stalled.”

Apsari’s number one priority is the safety and security of the girls, with the school principals fully convinced to promote prospective talent. Currently there are 20 players each in 25 districts. The coaches are conducting Zoom practice sessions to build on the innate talent possessed in abundance.

Apsari has been extended the full assistance of SLC’s management to carry out their vision for women’s cricket. SLC has set aside a budget for the promotion of girls’ cricket. Apsari has been given a vehicle and a driver to visit rural areas in the outstations. 

Apsari has carried out SLC’s dynamic vision for women’s cricket by launching cricket to the villages, sprouting the hidden talent at grassroots levels.

(The writer can be reached on email [email protected])