Sri Lanka’s cricketing community let out a collective sigh of relief as Chamari Athapaththu, the captain of the Women’s national team, clarified her stance on retirement, asserting her commitment to leading the team through the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers. With her eyes set firmly on the Qualifiers, Athapaththu assured fans that any decision regarding her future in international cricket would come only after the tournament concludes.
Speculation had been rife within cricketing circles after Athapaththu dropped cryptic hints about retirement in a now-deleted Facebook post. Following Sri Lanka’s sensational T20I series victory over South Africa, where Athapaththu mentioned her ‘last duty for my country,’ fans and pundits alike were left wondering about the future of the revered cricketer.
However, ahead of the ODI series against South Africa, the 34-year-old skipper cleared the air, emphasizing her immediate focus on leading Sri Lanka through their forthcoming commitments.
“I’m still not decided [on retirement],” Athapaththu remarked on the eve of the first ODI against the Proteas. “We can talk about it later. At the moment, I’m focused on the [South Africa] ODIs and World Cup qualifiers. Let’s see in the future.”
As Sri Lanka prepares for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, Athapaththu’s leadership remains pivotal. The team must secure a spot in the finals of the Qualifiers to earn their ticket to the main tournament slated to be held in Bangladesh later this year.
Set to commence on April 25th in the UAE, the Qualifiers will see Sri Lanka battling it out in Group A alongside Scotland, Thailand, Uganda, and USA. With only the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals, the stakes are undeniably high.
Expressing confidence in her team’s capabilities, Athapaththu highlighted the importance of adaptability, particularly in the unique conditions offered by the UAE.
“I’m pretty confident about my group,” she asserted. “We’ve played really good cricket so far. But the UAE has different conditions and is really good for the batters. Every team goes to qualifiers to win so we have to play our best cricket in World Cup qualifiers as well. I’m pretty confident about my bowling unit and batting unit.”
Athapaththu’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming Sri Lanka into a formidable force in women’s cricket. Her contributions have led to numerous accolades, including historic victories such as the first-ever T20I series win over England in England and a groundbreaking bilateral series triumph over South Africa, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s cricketing journey.
As the team gears up for yet another challenge, Athapaththu’s resolve and leadership continue to inspire confidence, fueling hopes for further success on the international stage.
