The 14-person Sri Lankan team for the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates from November 12 to 25, does not include veteran all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu. Harshitha Samarawickrama has been named captain of the team, with Kavisha Dilhari serving as her deputy. According to Cricinfo, Athapaththu’s exclusion raises the possibility of a leadership change as Sri Lanka gets ready for a future without the seasoned cricket player, who has been essential to the nation’s women’s cricket system.
Sri Lanka has been grouped with Scotland, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and the United Arab Emirates. Senior players who are not participating in the event include Chamari Athapaththu, Hansima Karunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani, Nimasha Meepage, Kawya Kavindi, and Mithali Ayodhya.
Several of the 14 players in the group have played for Sri Lanka’s Under-19 cricket team. In her last four Twenty20 innings at that level, 17-year-old Sanjana Kavindi has scored three fifty-plus runs. Another 17-year-old in the squad is Chamudi Praboda. The ensemble also includes Vishmi Gunarathne and Imesha Dulani.
Apart from Athapaththu, the Asian Games squad has also excluded Hansima Karunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani, Nimasha Meepage, Kawya Kavindi, and Mithali Ayodhya. Sathya Sandeepani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara, and Chethana Vimukthi are among the new choices. The team is made up of young people, with an average age of about 21. The other players are under 30, with the exception of Nilakshika Silva (37), Sugandika Kumari (35), and Hasini Perera (31).
Madara, Vimukthi, and Sewwandi are Sri Lanka’s three bowling specialists. Nilakshika and Sandeepani are both capable at medium-paced bowling. Sugandika Kumari and Chamudi Praboda are spin alternatives, and Dilhari’s off-spin adds more depth. Under Samarawickrama’s leadership, Sri Lanka hopes to make an impression in the competition with their relatively young team.
Sri Lanka squad for Emerging Nations Trophy:
Harshitha Samarawickrama (capt), Kavisha Dilhari (vice-capt), Sanjana Kavindi, Imesha Dulani, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sathya Sandeepani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Malki Madara, Chethana Vimukthi
