Sri Lankan under 19 women’s cricket team’s youngest player Chamodi Praboda Munasinghe from Monaragala was the highlight at the ongoing Women’s under 19 Tri Nation cricket series as her leg spin bowling performance are very high in her debut international series.
Chamodi Munasinghe the 14-year-old leg spinner from Monaragala district is the youngest player of this tournament while she is the first Monaragala player to represent National women’s team.
Monaragala district coach Tharindu Tebuwana in an exclusive interview with the Daily News said Chamodi found accidentally at the Monaragala Panchchananda MV side wicket opening ceremony held in 2020. This lesser known school at Uva Province sent their best bowler to this side wicket opening event where Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) women’s cricket convener Apsari Tillekarathna, Provincial coach Chaminda Kodikara ,Talent search coach Ushantha Gunaratne and Monaragala District Cricket Association officials were present.
“Chamodi was bowling as a fast bowler while we all seriously spotted this young girl. Apsari Tillekarathna informed this girl’s talent to SLC and this was her turning point. She is a small girl and during the coaching we changed her bowling style from fast bowler to leg spin and that was her turning point and she bowled really well as a leg spinner while she also improved her batting as a low order batter,” said District Cricket coach Tharindu Tebuwana who was a former Ratnapura District cricketer with nearly five years of coach stint.
Chamodi Munasinghe with her district coach Tharindu Tebuwana
“From school to distract tournament and then super province tournament Chamodi has shown her potential as the youngest player of the tournament. She still is in grade ten while she can play further five years for under 19 team. We called Chamodi ‘Batti’ but she is very dedicated and her commitment is very high to continue this sport, added District coach Tharindu Tebuwana.
“Talent search is more important we have Chethana Vimukthi the 22-year-old fast bowler from Pelwatta Navodya school. She also is in National senior squad but Chamodi is the first player to represent National under 19 team and we saw her talent from her debut International cricket tournament. She took 3 wickets at first ODI against Australia at Galle while her batting display also good as a lower order batter,” said Thebuwana.
Chamodi Munasinghe is now playing for SSC while her school coach Chandrakumara also not forget and Rangika Galhenage the SSC women’s cricket team coach is also very supportive to this young girl.Today she is in National under 19 team and it’s head coach Mahesh Weerasinghe and spin coach Umal Erandika also give good support to this younger spinner, added Tebuwana.
Meanwhile the young spinner Chamodi Munasinghe said her career is more success with the support of all coaches.
“Actually I started cricket at the age of 10 and played with my family members and from 2021 after side wicket opening of our school I continued my cricket at school then moved to district and super province level to reach this National level. I never thought within short period I can reach the National level,” said Chamodi.
When I joined with SSC I got good support from my Club. Playing for SSC the number one club always a real boost for me. Our Manager Sudharshana Guruge and coach Rangika Galhenage give good support and their blessings always strengthen me to go forward. We are from Monaragala having lack of facilities but today after join SSC and National team I get all facilities and I really appreciate SLC’s support.
“My mother Anoma Nishanthi and father Dinesh Kumara always backing me. My younger brother and elder sister and my parents always like to see my cricket talent. They came to see Hambantota Tri Nation matches. However my parents do not have all facilities to offer, they are doing small jobs but my dedication is very high. I got opportunity to play SSC and now National under 19 team and more focused on next year under 19 World Cup. I knew getting international exposure is very vital. From Monaragala to SSC and then National team and one day my dream is to play senior National team. Chamari Athapaththu akka’s performance always inspired me and wanted to go that level, said Chamodi Munasinghe the ‘Batti’ youngest player of the under 19 team.
Dhammika Ratnaweera reporting from Galle