Sri Lanka women announce squad for white-ball series against Ireland women, Athapaththu to miss T20I series

Sri Lanka Women. (Source – ACC)

The current Asian champions Sri Lanka will travel to Ireland for a two-match T20I and a three-match ODI series. The Chamari Athapaththu-led side defeated India in the finals of the recently concluded Asia Cup and will be now hoping to prepare better for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on October 3 in Bangladesh.

Keeping the future goal in mind, Sri Lanka have made one change to their winning squad. Youngster Kaushini Nuthyangana has made her way back after being dropped from the Asia Cup. She replaces Athapaththu as the veteran will be fulfilling her commitment towards Oval Invincibles for the duration of the T20I series. Notably, the 34-year-old full-time captain will make her way into the ODI series.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka currently sit fifth on the ODI championship table with 20 points in 21 games. If they manage to win all three matches against Ireland, they will move to second in the table. Ireland, on the other hand, are currently on 10th and are still searching for their maiden victory in the ongoing cycle. 

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More than the ODI series, Sri Lanka will be eyeing giving opportunities to players who mostly warmed the bench in the Asia Cup. Since the upcoming women’s T20 World Cup will be played in Bangladesh, where the ball will turn, the Lankan Lions will be hoping to do well and at least qualify for the semi-finals if not more. In the last edition of the tournament, Sri Lanka finished fourth in a five-team group and were eliminated. This time, the goal will be to do better than that.

The tour against Ireland will kick off with two T20Is on August 11 and 13, followed by the ODI series, which will begin on August 16.

Sri Lanka squad for the white-ball series against Ireland:

Chamari Athapaththu (c), 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