“We are determined to do our best in the T-20 World Cup qualifying tournaments, which will start with our game against Thailand today,” said Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team Skipper Chamari Athapaththu in a Zoom meeting yesterday from Dubai. Sri Lanka will meet Thailand in their first qualifying match today from 4.30 pm onwards in Dubai. The Sri Lanka team had good preparation before this tournament and also recorded back-to-back wins in their warm-up games against Netherlands and Vanuatu. However, Chamari Athapaththu was rested for both warm-up games.
“I think my team is ready to play this qualifying tournament, and young Harshitha Samarawickrama, who had a finger injury, also played in the last Vanuatu warm-up game. She is also ready to play in this tournament, and we haven’t finalised our final eleven, which will be named today.”
“Actually, this qualifying tournament is more important as we can measure our players’ performance, and we wanted to test a few players before this World Cup. We unfortunately missed direct qualification due to our poor ranking, but now we have the chance to play in this tournament and aim to reach the World Cup in Bangladesh next September. We never underestimate any team in these qualifying tournaments and want to play match by match with good plans,” added Athapaththu.
“As a skipper my aim is to give my best and get qualification first and then reach World Cup semi finals. I already have fulfilled my several duties in cricket career while this World Cup also gives my other goals a chance and I am sure my team members can unite to achieve success. If we can reach World Cup semi final then my team will do their responsibility to go beyond the semi finals,” said Chamari.
“I am very happy to be the world’s top batter in the ICC ranking, and this is the second time I have reached this milestone in my career. I know all my opponents are targeting my wicket as a top player, but I’ll try to stay calm and play my normal game,” added Chamari.
“At the moment my team is playing very well and we have good youngsters and they have good potential. This is the set up arranged by Sri Lanka Cricket recently and my supporting staff headed by Rumesh Ratnayake, Assistant coach Tharindu Perera, fielding coach Carman Mapatuna, batting coach Kaushalya Gajasinghe, physiotherapist, trainer and all are giving their best. We have good environment inside the dressing room and coach Rumesh Ratnayake always maintain a good set up for success,” added Skipper Chamari.
“We have young Shashini Gimhani the Chinaman bowler with rare action and she is a good asset to the team while we knew most of the young players are coming up now and we can see good progress in Sri Lanka women’s cricket. I like to see more youngsters with potential and also like to see their talent serving the country. We know today cricket is very competitive and not like those days. SLC treated us well and we all know our responsibility and do our best to go forward.”
Sri Lanka women’s team had a successful training session yesterday and their sole ambition is to play and enter the World Cup.
Dhammika Ratnaweera