Sri Lanka’s captain for the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be left-handed hitter Harshitha Samarawickrama; regular captain Chamari Athapaththu was left out of the 14-person team that was revealed on Wednesday. Vishmi Gunarathne and Nilakshika Silva, who were left off the team for the Asian Games, are back in the squad. Malki Madara, a fast bowler who missed the Asian Games and the Asia Cup, has also been selected.
Sri Lanka has been grouped with Scotland, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and the United Arab Emirates. Senior players that are not participating in the event include Chamari Athapaththu, Hansima Karunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani, Nimasha Meepage, Kawya Kavindi, and Mithali Ayodhya. Several of the 14 players in the group have played for Sri Lanka’s Under-19 cricket team.
In her last four Twenty20 innings at that level, 17-year-old Sanjana Kavindi has scored three fifty-plus runs. Another 17-year-old in the squad is Chamudi Praboda. The ensemble also includes Vishmi Gunarathne and Imesha Dulani.
The top three teams from each group will move on to the Super Six stage, where they will play on November 20, 22, and 23. The three teams who advance from the other group will play each qualifying. The final, which takes place on November 25 at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, will pit the top two teams from that stage against each other.
There are several disciplines covered by the bowling department. Praboda and Kumari provide spin options, and Dilhari adds off-breaks in addition to her batting. Because Nilakshika Silva can bowl at a medium pace, the team will also have versatility in that area. Three players make up the seam bowling unit: Malki Madara, Chethana Vimukthi, and Rashmika Sewwandi. The team also includes Sathya Sandeepani, who expands the pool of bowling options.
