Sri Lanka women cricketers in good space before ICC T20 WC

Sri Lanka women cricketers on a high after qualifying for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh   

• Bilateral series against West Indies and Ireland and T20 Asia Cup at home

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Unlike the men, Sri Lanka’s women cricketers are in good space going into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in October with two bilateral series and the T20 Asia Cup to boot before they travel to Bangladesh for the mega event.

The men winded up their international fixtures at the end of March with a tour to Bangladesh, which left them with no T20 fixtures till their departure to USA on 14 May. Sri Lanka Cricket thereby arranged a six-match T20 World Cup Preparation tri-series amongst players drawn up from the preliminary 25-member pool. 

Following their victorious series in South Africa and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE where they went through six matches unbeaten and won the final against Scotland, Sri Lanka Women will gear themselves to take on West Indies Women’s cricketers who are due here next month for a three-match WT20I series and a three-match WODI series. West Indies are placed sixth in both the ICC Women’s T20I and ODI rankings. Sri Lanka are likewise placed seventh in both formats.

Following the series against West Indies, Sri Lanka will host the eight-nation Women’s Asia Cup from 19-28 July with all the matches taking place in Dambulla. Sri Lanka will complete their T20 World Cup preparations with a tour to Ireland from 11-20 August for 2 WT20Is and 3 WODIs.

Commenting on the tour to Ireland, Sri Lanka Women’s head coach Rumesh Ratnayake said, “That takes us a bit away from the T20 World Cup because wickets and conditions are going to be totally different to Bangladesh. But that’s cricket. If you are in the major league you have to make sure you adapt to it. It’s not the best scenario but these are bilateral tours organised by the ICC which we have to follow. However, we have about a month before the World Cup after Ireland to prepare.”

By winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE, Sri Lanka finished as Qualifier 1 and are grouped for the T20 World Cup in Group A with Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan.

“It’s a matter of preparation now. It’s tough as nails. Whichever group you are in, it’s going to be tough in a World Cup. Our preparation needs to be very specific. Let’s see how it goes,” said Ratnayake.

Since Ratnayake took over as head coach of the women’s cricket team, they have been on a roll especially in the last 10 months or so beating higher ranked countries New Zealand at home, England away and South Africa away.

“After Rumesh Ratnayake sir took over as coach there has been a big improvement in our team,” said Sri Lanka women’s cricket captain Chamari Athapaththu. “The first match of the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup we defeated the host country South Africa who eventually came to the final. From there onwards there has been an awakening, we went on to defeat New Zealand, England, reached the final of the Asia Cup and beat South Africa.”

“The entire success must go to the head coach and likewise the support staff. Before Rumesh sir took over there were also other coaches who have helped us. The most important aspect is that we work as one family from baggage boy upwards. In the dressing room the head coach never allows anyone to speak negatively of anything. We are allowed to talk only about the positive things. I think the positive vibe the coach has brought to the team dressing room is the biggest secret for our success. It was brought by the head coach and the staff. I have got an extremely talented bunch of players who are like my family. I expect what we have moulded, to finish it off with a win in the T20 World Cup.”