The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named a 15-member squad for the women’s T20 tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, captained by Chamari Athapaththu, the Daily Mirror and Hiru News both reported on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka begin their campaign on 18 September against Malaysia in the third quarter-final. Both outlets agree on the fixture; Hiru dates it as “the day after tomorrow,” which from Wednesday gives the same date the Daily Mirror states outright.
The squad
Chamari Athapaththu (Captain), Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Hansima Karunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Nimasha Meepage, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Rashmika Sewwandi, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya and Kawya Kavindi.
The full list comes from the Daily Mirror. Hiru’s report confirms the squad size, the captain and the fixture but does not name the players.
Straight into the knockouts
Sri Lanka’s entry at the quarter-final stage is not a result of earlier matches — the leading sides were seeded directly into the knockout rounds. Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were handed direct berths in the men’s competition under the same arrangement, with the remaining teams contesting a preliminary round for the other places.
The consequence is a short and unforgiving route: a single defeat on 18 September ends the tournament, with no group stage to absorb an early loss.
The women’s competition also runs ahead of the men’s. The men’s cricket tournament at Nagoya begins on 24 September, six days after the women’s quarter-final.
Athapaththu
Athapaththu, described by the Daily Mirror as the team’s veteran captain, remains the central figure in Sri Lanka’s white-ball side and has led it through its most successful period, including the Women’s Asia Cup title run. Neither Wednesday’s report discusses form, selection changes or the reasoning behind the squad.
Not reported
Neither outlet gives the full fixture list beyond the quarter-final, the venue for the Malaysia match, the tournament format after the quarter-finals, or the dates of the semi-finals and final. Neither names the head coach, the team management or the reserves, and neither reports any selection surprises, omissions or returns from injury.
Neither says when the squad travels, and neither carries a quote — from the captain, the selectors or Sri Lanka Cricket. The announcement is reported as an announcement, with no accompanying comment from any named official.
One scheduling point is worth flagging for readers who follow the wider Games: the 2026 Asian Games are formally due to open on 19 September, a day after this quarter-final. Cricket tournaments at multi-sport games commonly begin before the opening ceremony, and neither outlet treats the date as unusual or remarks on it.
