Sri Lanka lasses to commence ICC U-19 Women’s WC campaign against USA
Sri Lanka U-19 Women’s squad: Vishmi Gunaratne ( Captain/Rathnavali GS, Gampaha), Dahami Sanethma (Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena), Umaya Rathnayake (Rathnavali GS, Gampaha), Rashmi Nethranjalee (Devapathiraja NS, Rathgama), Rashmika Sewwandi (Anura College, Matara), Dewmi Vihanga (Rathnavali GS, Gampaha), Manudi Nanayakkara (Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa), Sumudu Nisansala (Devapathiraja NS, Rathgama), Pamoda Shaini (Anura College, Matara), Vidushika Perera (Rathnavali GS, Gampaha), Dulanga Dissanayake (Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda) Rishmi Sanjana (Anura College, Matara) Nethmi Senarathne (Wadduwa Central College), Harini Perera (Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa), Vihara Sewwandi, (Devapathiraja NS, Rathgama) Officials: Indrani Ariyaratne (Team Manager), Shashikala Siriwardena (Head Coach), Jayathu Neelaweera (Assistant Coach), Hemalatha Jayawardena (Teacher-In-Charge)
Sri Lanka will commence their campaign against USA at the inaugural edition of the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup that will be held in South Africa from January 14 to 29. Sri Lanka have been grouped alongside Australia, Bangladesh and USA in Group ‘A’.
Vishmi Gunarathne, the 17-year-old opening batter from Rathnavali Girls School, Gampaha, will lead Sri Lanka in the 16-team tournament. They will be under the watchful eyes of former national women’s all-rounder Shashikala Siriwardena, who will be their head coach for the showpiece event.
Besides Sri Lanka’s group, England, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Rwanda will form the Group ‘B’, while Group ‘C’ includes the West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland and Indonesia. To complete the line-up of 16 teams, India, South Africa, UAE and Scotland will form Group ‘D’.
The matches will be played in four venues in Benoni and Potchefstroom. Sri Lanka will commence their campaign against USA at Willowmoore Park B Field in Benoni on January 14. Sri Lanka will field a team of 15 players, in which skipper Gunarathne is expected to play a key role with her exposure with the national women’s team. The team departed the island on Friday.
