Thursday Jun 11, 2026
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
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Shashini Gimhani (left) and Mithali Ayodhya, two teenagers in the World Cup squad
Captain Chamari Athapaththu
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Having appeared in all previous nine editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Chamari Athapaththu will make her 10th appearance at the mega women’s tournament when she leads a 15-member Sri Lanka squad to England.
To make any impact in the world event, Sri Lanka need some big scores from the Captain, especially in the first powerplay where she can utilise her powerful hitting to maximise the number of runs, thus enabling her team to come up with reasonable totals her bowlers can defend.
In 32 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches, Athapaththu has made only 3 fifties (highest score of 68), which is belying her outstanding talent as a world-class batter. She needs to do more than that if her team is to succeed.
Apart from Athapaththu who has appeared in 157 WT20Is for her country, the only other player with over 100 appearances is Nilakshika Silva, who has played in 114 matches.
National Women’s Selection Committee Chairman Hemantha Devapriya said that Silva, who has started to bowl seam, will be the fourth fast bowler in the squad supporting Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, and Mithali Ayodhya.
Silva first came into the national team as a right-arm medium-fast bowler, but developed her batting so much that she gave up bowling. But in recent times, she has begun to bowl again and could prove useful to the other three seamers in English conditions.
Devapriya said the 15-member team picked in consultation with new head coach Jamie Siddons is a well-balanced combination to suit English conditions. The squad features plenty of new names from the one that played at the previous edition of the tournament two years ago.
Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Nimasha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, and Mithali Ayodhya will all be making their maiden appearance at a Women’s T20 World Cup.
The core of the team also features plenty of experienced campaigners with the likes of Hasini Perera (95 WT20Is), Harshitha Samarawickrama (83), and Nilakshika Silva (114), Kavisha Dilhari (80), and Sugandika Kumari (94), complementing Athapaththu in the side.
Apart from the four seamers, the side is stacked with five spinners – two off spinners in Dilhari and Athapaththu, two left-armers Nimasha Madushani and Kumari, and Shashini Gimhani, who bowls left-arm chinaman.
Two teenage players have also made it to the squad – 17-year-old Shashini Gimhani and 19-year-old Mithali Ayodhya.
“It’s a good combination,” said Devapriya. “In English conditions, the ball is expected to swing a lot, but what we have seen from some of the matches currently being played between England and New Zealand, the spinners are dominating. Most of the wickets came off the slow bowlers.”
“The main idea is we need to get runs on the board. You have to utilise whatever power you have. Batting is very crucial in T20I cricket. You need to score 140 plus. With runs on the board, we have the bowling to defend it,” he added.
Coming on the back of a 3-0 T20I series win in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka will be looking to make a strong impression at the upcoming marquee tournament.
Slated in Group 2 alongside hosts England, Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, and defending champions New Zealand, the Chamari-led side will begin their campaign on 12 June, facing the hosts in the opening fixture at Edgbaston. Their remaining fixtures from Group B are 16 June vs. New Zealand at Southampton, 21 June vs. West Indies at Bristol, 23 June vs. Ireland at Bristol, and 26 June vs. Scotland at Manchester.
Sri Lanka squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
Chamari Athapaththu (Captain, 157 WT20I matches), Hasini Perera (95), Vishmi Gunaratne (54), Harshitha Samarawickrama (83), Imesha Dulani (12), Nilakshika Silva (114), Kavisha Dilhari (80), Hansima Karunaratne (19), Kaushini Nuthyangana (13), Sugandika Kumari (94), Nimasha Madushani (4), Shashini Gimhani (7), Kawya Kavindi (14), Malki Madara (12), Mithali Ayodhya (3)
