Because Chamari Athapaththu has commitments with Oval Invincibles in the Women’s Hundred, where she will play in every group-stage game, she will not be eligible for Sri Lanka’s T20I series in Ireland. The last group game for the Invincibles is scheduled for August 14, while the T20Is are scheduled between August 11 and 13. Beginning on August 16, she will join her fellow members of the national squad for the ODIs, which are a part of the 2022–2025 ICC Women’s Championship cycle.
While Athapaththu, who won Player of the Tournament in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, would undoubtedly be missed greatly by Sri Lanka, her departure will also provide a chance for the younger players to prove they can fill in. The last vice captain to be named was Harshitha Samarawickrama, while none was announced for the Ireland visit. When Athapaththu is not available, she might be the next captain of Sri Lanka.
The only member of the 16-man roster added to the one that won the Asia Cup last week is wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana. Although Nuthyangana has not yet played in an ODI, she will back up regular wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani.
The 18-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne, who has 416 runs in 17 matches to tie for fifth-most runs in women’s T20Is in 2024, and Samarawickrama, who shone with a Player-of-the-Match performance in the Asia Cup final, will bear a large portion of Athapaththu’s batting load. Kavisha Dilhari, an all-rounder who bowls spin, has also started to bat more consistently, as evidenced by her explosive 30-run innings off of only 16 balls against India last week.
Although Hasini Perera, Nilakshika Silva, and Sanjeewani have all made thrilling cameos in the past year, there may be some doubt below those three. Given that Sri Lanka’s remaining players are bowlers, Nuthyangana is also expected to see action because the team does not have another batting replacement for Athapaththu. The bowling options consist of three seamers and four frontline spinners.
Sri Lanka squad for the tour of Ireland
Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Kawya Kavindi, Sachini Nisansala, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Kaushini Nuthyangana