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| Sri Lanka women's national cricket team | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sri Lanka women's national cricket team |
| Association | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| Captain | Chamari Athapaththu |
| Coach | Hemantha Devapriya |
| ICC region | Asia |
| Odi rank | 9th (as of 2024) |
| T20 rank | 8th (as of 2024) |
| First wodi | v Madras at Colombo; 1997 |
| First wt20i | v Pakistan women's cricket team at Kuala Lumpur; 2009 |
| Wc womens odis | 4th place; 1997 |
| Wc womens t20 | Quarter-finals; 2014 |
Sri Lanka women's national cricket team is the international women's cricket side representing Sri Lanka in International cricket. Governed by Sri Lanka Cricket, the team competes in Women's One Day International and Women's Twenty20 International formats and has appeared at multiple ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and ICC Women's T20 World Cup tournaments. Key figures include captains such as Chamari Athapaththu and former leaders like Shashikala Siriwardene, while notable opponents have included Australia women's national cricket team, England women's cricket team, India women's cricket team, and New Zealand women's national cricket team.
The squad debuted in international competition during the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup held in India, facing sides including South Africa women's cricket team, Denmark women's cricket team, Ireland women's cricket team, and Netherlands women's cricket team. Early development involved tours against Pakistan women's cricket team and fixtures versus Bangladesh women's national cricket team and Malaysia women's national cricket team. The 2000s saw series versus England women's cricket team and West Indies women's cricket team, while the 2010s featured matches against Sri Lanka A cricket team opponents, and participation in regional events like the ACC Women's Tournament and Asian Games where they met China women's national cricket team and Thailand women's national cricket team. Historic individual performances came against South Africa, Pakistan, and Ireland, contributing to milestones such as first ODI victories and first WT20I wins after the ICC granted full WT20I status.
The side is administered by Sri Lanka Cricket, headquartered in Colombo at venues including P. Sara Oval and R Premadasa Stadium. Management structures have included technical committees, selection panels featuring former internationals such as Dilani Manodara and Shashikala Siriwardene, and coordination with the International Cricket Council for eligibility, anti-corruption, and development programs. Fixtures and bilateral tours are arranged with boards like the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Pakistan Cricket Board, Cricket Australia, England and Wales Cricket Board, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. High-performance initiatives have involved partnerships with Marylebone Cricket Club coaching visits, ICC regional development officers, and collaborations with institutions such as the National Sports Council of Sri Lanka.
Notable cricketers include Chamari Athapaththu, who has recorded high-scoring innings versus Australia and England; Shashikala Siriwardene, an all-rounder with leadership records; Dedunu Silva, Vishmi Gunaratne, and Anushka Sanjeewani. Record partnerships and wicket tallies were set against nations like Ireland, Netherlands, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Career leaders in ODIs and T20Is feature players who have faced opponents such as South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, and Sri Lanka A cricket team. Milestones include first WT20I half-centuries against Pakistan, highest ODI totals versus Denmark, and notable bowling figures recorded against Malaysia and Hong Kong women's national cricket team. Emerging talents have progressed from domestic sides like Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club and provincial teams such as the Colombo District squad.
At the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, the team reached a best finish in the inaugural 1997 campaign alongside teams including Australia and India. In ICC Women's T20 World Cup tournaments, Sri Lanka has competed in group stages and reached the knockout phases, meeting teams like England and New Zealand. Regional competitions include the Asian Games cricket events where they played Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the Women's Asia Cup with recurring fixtures against India women's cricket team and Pakistan women's cricket team. Development tournaments such as the ICC Women's Championship qualifiers and ACC events saw matches versus Thailand and Singapore women's national cricket team.
Coaches have included foreign and domestic tacticians, with recent appointments involving Hemantha Devapriya and prior stints by coaches linked to Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board programs. Support teams encompass strength and conditioning specialists, physiotherapists certified by Fédération Internationale de Physiothérapie standards, analysts using data from providers like ESPNcricinfo datasets, and fielding coaches with experience in Commonwealth Games preparation. Selection committees have historically included ex-players from Tamil Union and provincial systems, while mentoring initiatives involved former internationals collaborating with the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation and ICC coaching courses.
The domestic pathway includes provincial competitions such as the Inter-Provincial Tournament, club tournaments featuring teams like Sinhalese Sports Club and Nondescripts Cricket Club, and age-group championships providing feeders to the national side. School-level cricket across provinces like North Western Province and Southern Province supplies talent alongside university programs at University of Colombo and sports academies supported by the Ministry of Sports (Sri Lanka). Talent identification has used regional academies, umpiring and coaching courses run by Sri Lanka Cricket, and exchange tours with boards such as Cricket South Africa and the Bangladesh Cricket Board for under-19 development.
Coverage is provided by broadcasters like Dialog TV, Rupavahini, and international outlets including ESPNcricinfo, BBC Sport, and Cricbuzz, while print and digital media such as Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) and The Island (Sri Lanka) report on matches and player profiles. Public recognition has been amplified by appearances in national ceremonies at R Premadasa Stadium and honors from offices including the President of Sri Lanka and the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka. Rivalries with India and Pakistan drive attendance, while social media engagement and grassroots campaigns involve partnerships with NGOs and sponsors like Dialog Axiata and corporate supporters involved in women's sport promotion.
Category:Women's national cricket teams Category:Cricket in Sri Lanka