• Rumesh’s girls ready for the Windies 

Sri Lanka women’s team captain Chamari Athapaththu urged the country’s countless cricket followers not to lose hope with the Men’s team at the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

She said she was confident that Sri Lanka was yet capable of ‘creating something special’ in the format’s showpiece.

“Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties,” she told reporters at a news conference convened by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) at the Jaic Hilton yesterday (10), ahead of the forthcoming home series against the Windies at Hambantota.

She was responding to a question from The Daily Morning Sports, as to her take on the fate that awaits Sri Lanka, following their demoralising showings in their opening two fixtures against South Africa and Bangladesh respectively. 

“You would have seen that even Pakistan, lost a game the other day, which they could have won against India. So you cannot predict what will happen especially in this particular format, and for that reason alone I will not rule out our boys from progressing further and I wish them all the best.”

Sri Lanka are currently languishing at the bottom of the pile in Group D, following consecutive losses to South Africa and Bangladesh and consequently are in danger of missing the Super Eights, but the women’s skipper cautioned against writing off Wanidu Hasaranga’s team.

She said that as Sri Lanka still have two more matches up its sleeve, it’s important that they play to their potential and win those two games convincingly, ‘as the country is known for its resilience and for fighting back from sheer adversity.’ 

The captain and her girls who are currently riding a crest of a wave of success in white-ball cricket then exuded confidence of her players being able to make an impact in the upcoming three-match ODI and T20 series against the West Indies women’s team.

“We have had a good run of late against teams such as New Zealand, England and South Africa,” she remarked.

“Therefore I feel that the experience gained during the past one-and-a-half years both here and overseas, will stand us in good stead. I think West Indies too will be a strong outfit and we do not underestimate them. This will be another new series and we are looking forward to it.”

She said that six ODIs lined up against West Indies and three against Ireland will be vital for her girls, as they bid to directly qualify for the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in India.

The women’s skipper also was content with the squad at her disposal and spoke glowingly of the input of head coach ex-Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Rathnayake.

She rather unselfishly noted that the former Lankan pace spearhead’s impact had been decisive in turning around the fortunes of the women’s team in stark contrast to that of the men’s team.

The head coach too sounded optimistic of his charges being able to deliver the goods against their female counterparts from the Caribbean and was content with the preparations undergone ahead of the series.

The ODI and T20 series between hosts Sri Lanka and the West Indies is jointly sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka PLC and Sunquick Lanka PLC and its two representatives Janmesh Anthony and Mangala Perera respectively, spoke of their fervent desire to score for women’s cricket in the country.

(JK)   

The tour itinerary –

1st ODI –15 June

2nd ODI –18 June

3rd ODI –21 June

1st T20 -24 June

2nd T20-26 June

3rd T20-28 June