Cycle Pure Agarbathi Managing Director Arjun Ranga – the Women’s National Team sponsor (second from left) speaks at the media conference held at Cinnamon Grand. SLC Assistant Secretary Chryshantha Kapuwatte, Sri Lanka Women’s team captain Chamari Athapaththu, Women’s team head coach Rumesh Ratnayake and SLC Head of Marketing Upul Nawaratne Banda are also present

• Skipper Chamari confident of making it count despite the odds

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

A new coach, a new team sponsor and the full backing from Sri Lanka Cricket, the 15-member Sri Lanka women’s team led by Chamari Athapaththu left for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa yesterday with renewed hope of keeping the nation’s flag flying high.

The task is not going to be an easy one for eighth ranked Sri Lanka who are drawn in a tough group (Group A) with South Africa, Bangladesh, defending champions Australia and New Zealand.

But such hurdles are no hindrances to Chamari as she confidently spoke of her team’s prospects at the official jersey launch of the team and the announcement of the official team sponsor at an event held at Cinnamon Grand on Wednesday.

“I have got a good team with me with some experienced players and we have some excellent young cricketers as well. We all know that in this format the game can change suddenly. I always tell my players that ranking is only a number and the team that plays better on that day and makes the least mistakes can win,” said Chamari.

“Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Bangladesh are not easy teams, but if we perform to our capabilities on that day and play good cricket, we can defeat any team. I have that belief with my players.”

Under new head coach Rumesh Ratnayake who has succeeded Hashan Tillakaratne, Chamari said the team had prepared well for the World Cup.

“After the Asia Cup we got a break for about a week. We were to have a series against Bangladesh but unfortunately, they were unable to come. We had a provincial T20 tournament where there were some good performances from the players. We all know in South Africa the pitches are suited for fast bowling, so we prepared for it by playing matches with Under-15 and under 17 boys and at training we faced them in the nets.

“Then we had a nine-day training camp in Hambantota where we played matches under lights because three of our four World Cup matches are under lights. We had a good training under lights, the results of it you will be able to see during the World Cup.”

Chamari has been the standout player for Sri Lanka in the past few years and it is on her broad shoulders lies the team’s success. “I am only one player in the team. I was not amongst the runs in the Asia Cup but still my team reached the final. So, I have a lot of faith in my players. If I make a contribution, they know it is a big plus factor for them,” said Chamari.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t make many runs on the slow surfaces in Bangladesh. On fast Australian and South African pitches, I have made a lot of runs and I am hopeful that I will be able to make a big contribution to the team during the World Cup. I have rectified some of the mistakes that I have been making, and I am confident of contributing towards my team’s success.”

When questioned whether there were any other players who could come close to match her experience and talent, Chamari replied: “Not only one, there are several exceptional players. From the batting there is Harshitha Madavi, Vishmi Gunaratne, senior batters Anushka Sanjeewani and Nilakshi de Silva who has pulled the side out of trouble on several occasions. Spinners Inoka (Ranaweera) and Oshadee (Ranasinghe), and Achini (Kulasuriya).”

Chamari said that the absence of Hasini Perera was a big loss to the side. Hasini suffered a fracture on her thumb and it will take about 4-5 weeks for her to recover. Her replacement is Sathya Sandeepani, whom Chamari hoped would fill the void created by Hasini.

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake who has handled the men’s team on several occasions and now the women’s side said drawing comparison to both said: “It’s very similar. It’s just that there is a lot of depth in the men’s team. Unfortunately, you don’t get that bench in the women’s but there is a lot of growth that you can see that is happening almost overnight, instantaneously. 

“That’s the excitement I am in and the girls are also up to it. There could be huge growth in the future. In world cricket if you take women’s cricket ten years ago and now, it’s gone leaps and bounds. That’s the excitement I am having at the moment.”

SLC Assistant Secretary Chryshantha Kapuwatte said that he saw no reason why the women cannot emulate the men at cricket and added that SLC ExCo has taken a decision to extend the same support they are giving the men’s national team to the women’s national team.

Cycle Pure Incense owned by NR Group of India was announced as the official team sponsor of the Sri Lanka women’s team for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, while MAS Holdings, partnered SLC as the official clothing sponsor of the women’s national cricket team for the T20 World Cup.

SRI LANKA T20 WORLD CUP MATCHES

(Warm-Up): v Ireland (6 Feb.), v West Indies (8 Feb.)

(Group A): v South Africa (10 Feb.), v Bangladesh (12 Feb.), v Australia (16 Feb.), v New Zealand (19 Feb.)    

SLC appoints Susanthika Jayasinghe  to promote women’s cricket