SA vs SL: “This Series Is Very Important For Us”- Chamari Athapaththu

In the world of cricket, Chamari Athapaththu stands as a beacon of resilience, talent, and sheer passion for the game. With an illustrious career marked by numerous achievements, the Sri Lankan captain continues to inspire both on and off the field.

In a press conference, while responding to Neha Shetty of Women’s CricInsight ahead of a crucial series against South Africa, Athapaththu shared insights into her journey, aspirations, and the significance of upcoming tournaments. Athapaththu’s inclusion in The Hundred Draft by the Oval Invincibles was met with jubilation. Reflecting on this milestone, she expressed genuine happiness, emphasizing the significance of finally getting the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event.

“I’m really happy because the first time someone picked in the draft because few drafts and auctions I missed,” Chamari Athapaththu said. “Finally, I got the opportunity to play and will feature in The Hundred very first time. I’m happy to be part of the Oval Invincibles family. Finally, it is good news for me and I hope I can play really good cricket this summer.”

The experience gained from playing in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been invaluable for Athapaththu. She highlighted the camaraderie among teammates and the opportunity to share knowledge with younger players as major takeaways.

“I really enjoyed with the girls at the WPL. We couldn’t reach the final but I had a good experience. UP Warriorz are one of the best teams in the WPL competition,” she shared. “I had a good experience with the overseas players like Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath and Danni Wyatt. I also got the chance to share my knowledge with youngsters. I hope we can play good cricket in future”, she added.

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“I hope they will play really good cricket” – Chamari Athapaththu backs the youngsters

Looking ahead, Chamari Athapaththu underlined the importance of the series against South Africa in fine-tuning team strategies and combinations, especially with major tournaments like the Women’s T20 World Cup and the ICC ODI World Cup qualifiers looming. “This series is very important for us,” she stressed.

“Especially three ODIs is very important for us because we have to play World Cup qualifiers and next this year World Cup as well.” She also added, “We have few plans and we have some exciting youngsters in the team. I hope they will play good cricket this year. Especially the ODI format is also really important for us because we need some points to climb the ladder in the ICC Champions Table as well. So, both the formats are really important for us”, she shared.

Acknowledging the talent within the South African squad, Athapaththu remains vigilant but confident in her team’s abilities. She mentioned names like Vishmi Gauraratna, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Madavi, and Kavya Kavindi as key players to watch out for. “My team has few youngsters as well,” she noted. “I hope they will play really good cricket.”

In every word she utters, Chamari Athapaththu exudes a blend of determination and optimism, epitomizing the spirit of cricket. As she prepares to lead her team into battle against formidable opponents like the Proteas on their home soil, her leadership, experience, and unwavering commitment to the game serve as an inspiration to cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

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