Anjum Chopra. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Anjum Chopra, former India captain, stated that she was stunned after seeing the Sri Lankan all-rounder, Chamari Athapaththu, going unsold in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction which was held in Mumbai, on Saturday, December 9.
Athapaththu was one of the biggest surprises of the auction as she did not grab interest from any of the five franchises despite her current form in the format. England batter Tammy Beaumont, Australian all-rounder Kim Garth, and West Indies legend Deandra Dottin were other prominent names who went unsold.
“It is unfair because people in that auction room would have watched her performance in the WBBL. They would have seen what happened in England. She would not have to tell people who she is. She has that influence through her performances with the bat. So, I am really surprised that a player with all-round abilities like hers is going unsold. Here is a player who can do two jobs for you and is still going unsold. How is it that these teams are not seeing the quality that this player possesses,” Anjum said while speaking to JioCinema.
Chamari Athapaththu finished as second leading run-scorer in WBBL 2023
Chamari Athapaththu emerged as the second leading run-scorer in the recently concluded Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Playing for Sydney Thunder Women, she accumulated 552 runs, including five half-centuries in 14 innings at an average of 42.46, and a strike rate of over 127. She also claimed nine wickets in the competition and eventually emerged as the Player of the Tournament.
Overall in the T20I format, Athapaththu has amassed 2651 runs from 122 T20Is at an average of 22.65 and a strike rate of 106.20. The 33-year-old has achieved a century and eight fifties and her best score is 113 which she scored against Australia. She also claimed 40 wickets in the format at an average of 29.67, with best figures of 3/17.