New Delhi [India], September 20 (ANI): Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, exudes confidence that her team will approach the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in a “different zone,” buoyed by their remarkable victories over top-tier teams leading up to the prestigious event in Abu Dhabi.

The Sri Lankan team is riding a wave of high spirits following their sensational triumph in the Asia Cup final, where they outperformed India to clinch the coveted title.

“This time, we arrive in a different zone. Having beaten several top teams during the last 15-month period and winning the T20 Asia Cup, our team has come a long way in T20 cricket,” stated Athapaththu, as quoted by the ICC.

In July, Sri Lanka secured the Asia Cup title in an unbeaten streak, overpowering formidable opponents such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This victory has undoubtedly elevated their status and morale.

Athapaththu is optimistic that her team’s relentless hard work and current form will pay off in the upcoming World Cup. She emphasized that Sri Lanka now has a golden opportunity to make a significant impact on the global stage following their recent Asian triumph.

“The upcoming World Cup is going to be crucial for us to make our mark on the world stage. For Sri Lanka and our team, it is a huge platform. We have taken part in many World Cups in the past, and each one is a golden opportunity for us,” she remarked.

Highlighting the significance of their Asia Cup victory, Athapaththu noted, “The Asia Cup was the best achievement within women’s cricket for Sri Lanka so far. We remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, defeating Bangladesh in the first round, Pakistan in the semis, and India in the final.”

Discussing the composition of Sri Lanka’s squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup, Athapaththu expressed her confidence in both the young talents and experienced players on the team.

“We have Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, and Kavisha Dilhari—youngsters who can win games for us. On the experienced side, we have players like Nilakshi de Silva and Anushka Sanjeewani. In terms of bowling, we have Inoshi Priyadharshani, who is making waves in the rankings along with a few others.”

The full squad for Sri Lanka includes: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Anushka Sanjeewani, Harshitha Madhavi, Nilakshika de Silva, Inoka Ranaweera, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Sachini Nisansala, Vishmi Gunaratne, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Shashini Gimhani, and Ama Kanchana. The travelling reserve is Kaushini Nuthyangana. (ANI)