Recently, the captain of the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team, Chamari Athapatthu, got the opportunity to play for the Sydney Thunder in the 09th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia. Accordingly, she led her side to victory with a superb all-round performance in the very first game she played. Chamari, who initially smashed a half-century before picking up three crucial wickets, was adjudged as the Player of the Match.
Recently, in a press conference held through Zoom technology, an all-rounder of Sydney Thunder, Chamari Athapaththu, expressed her views on franchise cricket as follows.
Franchise cricket is not all about money, it’s about learning new skills and culture and getting experience. I know many women players from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who are keen to feature in WBBL due to the standard and pace of cricket over here. I would urge franchises to give more South Asian girls an opportunity to shine in WBBL. WBBL is one of the best franchise leagues and I will take this knowledge to the young players of Sri Lanka. Kavish Dilhari, Vishmi and Harshita from Sri Lanka should be in the world’s franchise leagues.
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Cricket Sri Lanka is also planning to organise a T10 Women’s League in Sri Lanka in December. It would likely be a four-franchise-based tournament.
I have a good relationship with England’s Heather Knight and not getting any banter from Heather Knight. She is controlling the squad very well here in Sydney Thunders.
Always try to lead from the front when I wear the blue jersey from Sri Lanka. A message to all the young girls is to just focus on the present and play fearless. Don’t think about the future.
