Sri Lanka announce squad for Women's Asia Cup 2024
Hosts Sri Lanka have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming Women's Asia Cup 2024. The tournament is all set to begin on Friday, July 19, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) taking on Nepal in the opener.
A total of eight teams - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka will be battling it out for continental glory, with the final being scheduled on Sunday, July 28.
It will be the ninth edition of the prestigious tournament whose inaugural edition was held way back in 2004. This year's Women's Asia Cup will also be played in the T20I format given that the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup is fast approaching. All 15 matches will take place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Here's Sri Lanka's 15-member squad for the Women's Asia Cup 2024:
Chamari Athapaththu – Captain, 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 and Ama Kanchana.
Can Sri Lanka end India's dominance and reign supreme at home?
Despite reaching the Women's Asia Cup finals on five occasions so far out of the eight editions, Sri Lanka are yet to clinch the title having lost all five finals. During the Women's Asia Cup 2022 final, they suffered an eight-wicket defeat against India at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
India restricted them to a total of 65-9 in 20 overs, thereby chasing down the target of 66 runs in just 8.3 overs for the loss of two wickets.
The Women in Blue are the most successful nation at the Women's Asia Cup having won a record seven titles. They suffered their only setback when Bangladesh got the better of them by three wickets in the final of the 2018 edition, which was played at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This time, Chamari Athapaththu's women will be hoping to break their jinx and go one step further to clinch that elusive crown in front of their passionate home fans.