Samarawickrama to lead Sri Lanka in Emerging Nations Trophy, Dilhari her deputy

Chamari Athapaththu will sit out the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy set to be held in the UAE from November 12 to 25, with Harshitha Samarawickrama set to lead Sri Lanka's 14-member squad. Kavisha Dilhari will be her deputy in what is a glimpse how Sri Lanka's setup is likely to look once Athapaththu eventually decides to call time on her career.

Aside from Athapaththu, also missing out from the squad named from the Asian Games are Hansima Karunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani, Nimasha Meepage, Kawya Kavindi and Mithali Ayodhya. Included are Sathya Sandeepani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara and Chethana Vimukthi.

Aside from the veteran pair of Nilakshika Silva and Sugandika Kumari, 37 and 35 respectively, the only other player older than 30 is 31-year-old Hasini Perera. The rest of the squad has an average age of just 21, making Sri Lanka's one of the most youthful outfits at the tournament.

The batting unit, even without Athapaththu, retains a strong core led by Samarawickrama. Sanjana Kavindi - one of two 17-year-olds in the squad; the other being Chamudi Praboda - has been in fine form for Sri Lanka Under-19 of late, with three fifty-plus scores in her last four T20 innings. Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunarathne, Dilhari, Hasini, Nilakshika, Kaushini Nuthyangana and Sandeepani make up the rest of the batting.

On the bowling front, Sri Lanka have named three seamers in the squad - Madara, Vimukthi and Sewwandi - though Sandeepani is also capable of chipping in with her medium pace, as is Nilakshika. Kumari and Praboda make up the spin bowling department, which will be supplemented by Dilhari's off breaks.

Harshitha Samarawickrama (capt), Kavisha Dilhari (vice-capt), Sanjana Kavindi, Imesha Dulani, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sathya Sandeepani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Malki Madara, Chethana Vimukthi