Sri Lanka Women at ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Full Squad, Player Profiles & What to Expect
Sri Lanka Women arrive at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on the back of genuine momentum. A clean 3-0 sweep of Bangladesh in a pre-tournament T20I series gave the selectors exactly what they needed - clarity in combinations and confidence in the group. This is a team in transition, but not in crisis. The selectors have backed both experience and youthful firepower, assembling a 15-member squad that blends battle-hardened campaigners with fresh faces who are hungry to prove themselves on cricket's biggest women's stage.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Team Name | Sri Lanka Women's National Cricket Team |
| Nickname | Lionesses |
| Captain | Chamari Athapaththu |
| ICC T20I Ranking | 7th (Rating: 237) |
| ICC ODI Ranking | 6th (Rating: 89) |
| Tournament Group | Group B |
| Group Opponents | England, New Zealand, West Indies, Ireland, Scotland |
| Campaign Opener | vs England, June 12, Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| World Cup History | Every edition since 2009 |
| Pre-tournament Form | Won 3-0 T20I series vs Bangladesh |
Sri Lanka Women's Complete Match Schedule - ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
| Sri Lanka vs England | June 12, 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Sri Lanka vs New Zealand | June 16, 2026 | Hampshire Bowl, Southampton |
| Sri Lanka vs West Indies | June 21, 2026 | Bristol County Ground, Bristol |
| Sri Lanka vs Ireland | June 23, 2026 | Bristol County Ground, Bristol |
| Sri Lanka vs Scotland | June 26, 2026 | Old Trafford, Manchester |
Complete Player Statistics: Sri Lanka Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
| Player | Role | Batting Strike Rate | Bowling Strike Rate | Economy Rate |
| Chamari Athapaththu | All-Rounder | ~115 | ~24 | ~6.8 |
| Hasini Perera | Wicket Keeper-Batter | ~105 | — | — |
| Vishmi Gunarathne | Batter | ~110 | — | — |
| Harshitha Samarawickrama | Batter | ~118 | ~30 | ~7.2 |
| Imesha Dulani | Batter | ~108 | — | — |
| Nilakshika Silva | All-Rounder | ~95 | ~28 | ~7.0 |
| Kaveesha Dilhari | All-Rounder | ~112 | ~22 | ~6.5 |
| Hansima Karunarathne | Batter | ~100 | — | — |
| Kaushini Nuthyangana | Wicket Keeper-Batter | ~96 | — | — |
| Sugandika Dassanayaka | Bowler | — | ~18 | ~6.2 |
| Nimasha Madushani | Bowler | — | ~20 | ~6.5 |
| Shashini Gimhani | Bowler | — | ~16 | ~5.8 |
| Kawya Kavindi | Bowler | — | ~17 | ~6.3 |
| Malki Madara | Bowler | — | ~19 | ~6.6 |
| Mithali Ayodhya | Bowler | — | ~21 | ~6.8 |
Source: ICC Cricket & ESPNcricinfo | Stats accurate as of June 2026
Chamari Athapaththu
- Born: February 9, 1990 (Age: 36)
- Role: Captain, Batting All-Rounder
The Kurunegala-born left-hander is the architect of modern Sri Lanka women's cricket. Having featured in all nine previous editions of the Women's T20 World Cup, she arrives at this tournament as not just Sri Lanka's most important player but as one of the most experienced cricketers in the entire competition. Her ability to launch the innings at the top of the order while also providing crucial off-spin overs in the middle makes her a genuine match-winner on any given day.
Hasini Perera
- Born: June 27 1995 (Age: 30)
- Role: Middle-order batter/all-rounder
Hasini Perera is one of Sri Lanka's most reliable operators with the bat. A veteran of multiple ICC events, she brings calm under pressure that younger players in the squad will lean on through the tournament. Her experience, in combination with her wicket-keeping ability, makes her an important cog in the team's engine room.
Vishmi Gunarathne
- Born: August 22 2005 (Age: 20)
- Role: Top-order Batter
At just 20 years old, Vishmi Gunarathne is already being spoken of as a cornerstone of Sri Lanka's batting future. She exploded onto the scene domestically when she scored 417 runs off 128 balls in a school U-19 match. It was a record that made Sri Lanka cricket sit up and pay attention. By the end of 2025, she had racked up 755 T20I runs across 50 matches.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
- Born: June 29 1998 (Age: 27)
- Role: Top-order Batter
Harshitha Samarawickrama has been a key figure in Sri Lanka's batting lineup since her debut in 2016. She is known for her clean striking and ability to accelerate at the death. The left-hander's T20I half-centuries across multiple series signal someone who is always capable of match-turning contributions. She is Sri Lanka's most consistent middle-order operator and a player expected to do real damage on English pitches.
Imesha Dulani
- Born: January 20 2002 (Age: 24)
- Role: Top-order batter
Imesha Dulani has been knocking on the door of the World Cup setup for a while and finally gets her shot in England. The 24-year-old right-hander has shown she can hold the innings together in the middle order without sacrificing the ability to accelerate. This tournament will be her biggest stage yet and a massive opportunity to cement her long-term place in the squad.
Nilakshika Silva
- Born: September 27, 1989 (Age: 36)
- Role: All-Rounder
Nilakshika Silva is one of the senior players of the Sri Lanka squad. Her slow-medium bowling is a useful weapon in conditions that suit movement, and her batting adds lower-order value. In a group where every run and every wicket could shape qualification outcomes, her experience is priceless.
Kaveesha Dilhari
- Born: January 24 2001 (Age: 25)
- Role: All-Rounder
Kaveesha Dilhari is arguably the most complete all-round cricketer in the Sri Lanka squad outside of the captain. Her off-break bowling gives Sri Lanka a genuine third or fourth spin option in the middle overs, while her right-handed batting brings vital flexibility to the lineup. Still only 25, she has already been through enough international tournaments to handle the pressure of a World Cup.
Hansima Karunarathne
- Born: October 4 1993 (Age: 32)
- Role: Right-hand Batter
Hansima Karunarathne is one of the fresh faces in this squad who has earned her spot through consistent performances at the domestic and national levels. Her inclusion as a World Cup debutant reflects the selectors' faith in her ability to contribute at this level.
Kaushini Nuthyangana
- Born: August 5 2002 (Age: 23)
- Role: Wicket Keeper-Batter
Kaushini Nuthyangana has waited patiently for her World Cup opportunity. She made her T20I debut in 2022. The player has been part of the extended Sri Lanka setup for several years. Her left-handed batting adds variety to the lineup. Her glove work provides reliable backup to Hasini Perera.
Sugandika Dassanayaka
- Born: October 5, 1991 (Age: 34)
- Role: Bowler (Slow Left-Arm Orthodox Spinner)
Sugandika Dassanayaka is one of the lesser-known names in this squad to the global audience. But her domestic performances have earned the trust of the selectors. She adds bowling depth to a Sri Lanka side that will need variety to deal with different opposition batting lineups across a tough group stage.
Nimasha Madushani
- Born: August 15, 1999 (Age: 26)
- Role: Bowler
Nimasha Madushani is another first-time World Cup participant making her mark. Her selection follows a series of strong showings at the national level and signals that Sri Lanka's bowling department is being actively refreshed with new talent. She represents the future of Sri Lanka's seam attack.
Shashini Gimhani
- Born: December 9 2008 (Age: 17)
- Role: Left-arm Wrist Spinner
Shashini Gimhani is the story of this Sri Lanka squad. At just 17 years old, the ambidextrous wrist-spinner from Mahamodara is already a veteran of the international setup, having made her T20I debut at the age of 15 years and 144 days. This made her Sri Lanka's youngest-ever international cricketer at the time. Her left-arm wrist spin, combined with her ability to bowl with both hands, makes her a genuine puzzle for opposition batters.
Kawya Kavindi
- Born: October 30 2002 (Age: 23)
- Role: Right-arm Medium Fast | Bats: Right-hand
Kawya Kavindi is a pace bowling asset who has been on the periphery of the Sri Lanka setup for a few years. Her right-arm medium-fast bowling has the ability to generate movement in English conditions, where the ball swings naturally. Making her World Cup debut at 23, she goes in with the wind potentially in her favour and the opportunity to announce herself to the world.
Malki Madara
- Born: December 30, 2000 (Age: 25)
- Role: Right-arm Medium-fast bowler
Malki Madara only made her international debut in 2025, but her impact with the ball in ODIs was enough to win her a spot in this World Cup squad. She also plays for the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club domestically and brings discipline to the bowling attack. She is at the ideal age to make her mark on the international stage.
Mithali Ayodhya
- Born: January 13, 2007 (Age: 19)
- Role: Right-arm Medium bowler
Mithali Ayodhya is another debutant who completes the bowling lineup for Sri Lanka. Her inclusion is another indicator of the faith Sri Lanka's selectors are placing in the next generation of cricketers to step up when it matters most. The team has become more balanced now.
Sri Lanka Women's Key Strengths Heading Into the T20 World Cup 2026
One-woman army: In the history of the Women's T20 World Cup, few players have single-handedly dragged their teams to victory. Athapaththu is one of them. She can demolish an attack at the top or knit the innings together when wickets fall.
A genuine match-winner in Shashini Gimhani: At 17, the left-arm wrist spinner is already generating buzz as one of the most exciting young talents in the women's game. Such skilled talent could be a nightmare to face.
Pace depth suited to English conditions: With players like Malki Madara offering medium-pace or seam options, Sri Lanka has assembled a bowling attack that can exploit the natural movement available in England. This could be quite a decisive advantage.
Sri Lanka Women's Biggest Weaknesses at T20 World Cup 2026
Heavy dependence on Athapaththu: The gap between Athapaththu's contributions and the next batter is too wide. If she is dismissed early, Sri Lanka's middle order can struggle to balance the game.
Eight World Cup debutants: Over half the squad has never played in a T20 World Cup match. Tournament cricket has a unique pressure to it. How those eight players handle their first World Cup experience could define whether Sri Lanka reaches the knockouts or goes home early.
A tough group with no easy games: England at Edgbaston, defending champions New Zealand, and a dangerous West Indies side all await in Group 2. There is very little room for error.
What to Expect From Sri Lanka at the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka will be a difficult team to predict, and that is exactly what makes them worth watching. On their day, with Athapaththu firing and Shashini Gimhani weaving her magic through the middle overs, they can beat anyone in this group. Their bowling attack, with its pace variety and a world-class spin option in Gimhani, is built for English conditions.
The realistic target for Sri Lanka is to finish third in their group and qualify via the Super 12 route. A quarter-final appearance would represent a significant achievement given the competition. However, if two or three of their debutants step up when it matters, Sri Lanka are capable of surprising people and going further. The opening match against hosts England at Edgbaston on June 12 will be the true test of where this team stands mentally and technically.
Also Read - Scotland Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
FAQs
Who is the captain of the Sri Lanka women's team at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026?
Chamari Athapaththu leads the side. She has captained Sri Lanka in all nine previous editions of the Women's T20 World Cup, making her one of the most experienced captains in the history of the tournament.
What is Sri Lanka Women's current ICC T20I ranking?
Sri Lanka Women are ranked 7th in the world in T20I cricket with a rating of 237.
Which group is Sri Lanka in at the Women's T20 World Cup 2026?
Sri Lanka is placed in Group B with the strongest teams of the cricket world.
When will the Sri Lanka Women play their first match at the 2026 World Cup?
Their campaign began on June 12, 2026, against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Who is the youngest player in the Sri Lanka Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad?
Shashini Gimhani, born on December 9 2008, is the youngest player in the squad at 17 years old. She became Sri Lanka's youngest-ever international cricketer when she debuted at 15.
Did Sri Lanka Women win any series before the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup?
Yes. Sri Lanka completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Bangladesh.