Focused on playing for my country, Chamari says after WPL snub

Sri Lanka Women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu on Thursday said she was focused on playing for the country after she went undrafted for the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India. 

Wicket-keeper Anushka Sanjeewani and spinner Inoka Ranaweera also went unsold, but the surprise omission was Athapaththu, who has previously featured in the Women’s T20 Challenge, a tournament organized by the Indian Premier League that preceded the formation of the WPL. 

“As a player, I focus on playing for my country.  Playing in league (tournaments) is something else. I have played many league games and (I have) played three editions (of the Women’s T20 Challenge). This is not under my control. I have shown my best skills and I have played my best,” she said. 

“I will prove how good my team and I are in this tournament,” Athapaththu added. 

Franchises in the WPL would not have had to look too far back to see how good Athapaththu is, having made key contributions in Sri Lanka Women’s first two matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa. 

Against the hosts last Friday, Athapaththu top scored with 68 off 50 balls, before marshalling her team to hold off a late challenge from the South Africans, and record a three-run win. 

On Sunday it was with the ball that the Sri Lankan captain made the telling contribution, dismissing Bangladesh’s Sobhana Mostary and breaking a threatening third-wicket partnership. 

She ended with miserly figures of 2 for 19 as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh Women to 126 for 8 in their 20 overs and then chased the target down with seven wickets in hand. 

A win against Australia on Thursday could potentially put Sri Lanka into the semi-finals, and Athapaththu was confident her team could produce a win, an opponent they are yet to beat in T20 international cricket. 

“We know Australia is a very good side, but we know our skill, we back our skills. So, the team and all the teammates are in a good positive mindset so hopefully we can play good cricket tomorrow. We have a good batting line up because all the batters are in the form and the bowlers are doing really good,” she said.