Chamari wins ICC ODI Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2023 award

Chamari Athapaththu has clinched her maiden ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award, becoming the first female cricketer from Sri Lanka to win an ICC Award. 

A landmark year has not only seen Athapaththu clinch the individual award, but also be named captain of both the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Teams of the Year, announced earlier in the week.

The all-rounder scored 415 runs in eight matches during 2023, at an average of 69.16 and a strike-rate of 125.37. Among a year of highlights, her unbeaten knocks of 108 and 140 helped Sri Lanka win the ICC Women’s Championship series against New Zealand 2-1 in Galle in June and July.

The Sri Lanka skipper wins from fellow nominees Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr and Ashleigh Gardner.

“I feel very happy and proud. I have finally achieved a big dream,” said Athapaththu. “Sometimes playing a level up is about improving, not impressing. So, I want to keep doing my best for my country all the time. Amelia, Nat and Ash are the world’s best all-rounders, and it was an honour to be nominated along with them.”

“I have had some good achievements in the last few years. I am the first [female] Sri Lanka cricketer to score centuries in ODIs and T20Is, I had also scored 178 against Australia in the World Cup (2017), but this one is an important achievement of my career. I have sacrificed a lot for this award, so I am very happy.”