Inoka Ranaweera
Sri Lanka has included 38-year-old cricketer Inoka Ranaweera into the squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in Dubai starting next month.
Team selectors included Ranaweera while excluding 21-year-old seamer Kawya Kavindi who has played ten games for Sri Lanka.
At an age when most cricketers retire, Ranaweera finds herself back in business as a left arm spinner who has captured 91 wickets in her career averaging18.03.
With her inclusion Sri Lanka is left with just three pace bowling options in Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya and Ama Kanchana.
Ranaweera joins spinners Inoshi Priyadharshani, Sugandika Kumari and Kavisha Dilhari in making up the slow bowling segment with skipper and leading batter Chamari Atapattu also adding support.
Sri Lanka is placed in a tough group with India, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
“We know we cannot take any teams for granted in T20 cricket. A few quick wickets, dot balls or big shots can instantly change the complexion of a game. Teams like India, Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa has proven their mettle in tournaments such as this over many years, so we are aware of the challenges ahead,” said Atapattu.
Sri Lanka enters the World Cup as Women’s Asia Cup champs.
Sri Lanka quad:
Chamari Atapattu (captain), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilshari, Nilakshi de Silva, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sachini Nisansala, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana and Sugandika Kumari
