Sri Lanka have opted for a measured mix of experience and promise, confirming a 15-strong party for next month’s Women’s T20 World Cup in England. 17-year-old Shashini Gimhani, a rare ambidextrous wrist-spinner, is the headline inclusion, while long-serving opener Chamari Athapaththu continues as captain and is set for her tenth appearance at the tournament.
“It’s a privilege to lead the side once more,” Athapaththu said in a brief board statement. “This event always brings out the best in us, and I’m excited to see how the younger players respond.”
The selectors also recalled batter Vishmi Gunaratne and pace bowler Kawya Kavindi after solid domestic campaigns. Left-arm seamer Rashmika Sewwandi, leg-spinner Dewmi Vihanga and veteran Inoka Ranaweera make way after featuring in the recent series against Bangladesh.
Chief selector Hashan Tillakaratne explained the decision-making: “We wanted genuine balance – senior heads for pressure moments and youngsters who can change a game.” On Gimhani, he added: “Her ability to spin the ball both ways is unusual and could be handy on English pitches.”
Gimhani already has seven T20I caps, having debuted at 15 – the youngest woman to represent Sri Lanka. Her control of the leg-break and left-arm ‘chinaman’ (left-arm wrist-spin that turns into a right-hander) offers Athapaththu an extra tactical option during the middle overs.
Sri Lanka fly out on 3 June and open the tournament against hosts England at Edgbaston on 12 June. Group-stage fixtures then take them to Southampton for New Zealand (16 June), Bristol for West Indies (21 June) and Ireland (23 June), before finishing against Scotland in Manchester on 26 June. The top two sides in each pool progress to semi-finals at The Oval (30 June, 2 July), with the final slated for Lord’s on 5 July.
Squad: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Shashini Gimhani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya.
The journey, then, is familiar ground for Athapaththu yet brand new for half the squad. How quickly those fresh faces adapt to early-summer English conditions may define Sri Lanka’s campaign.
