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Chamari Athapaththu has joined UP Warriorz in place of
Lauren Bell, who withdrew from the forthcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Athapaththu’s basic price of INR 30 lakh (about $36,000 USD) has been inked.
Just two days after the WPL final in Delhi on March
19, Bell told the Warriorz setup that she wanted to concentrate on getting
ready for the New Zealand series. The remaining members of Warriroz’s England
team, head coach Jon Lewis (who also coaches England Women), Sophie Ecclestone,
and Danni Wyatt, have not yet been updated on their plans to wrap up their WPL
matches before travelling to New Zealand.
“I look forward to giving my best to the team and
working closely with head coach Jon Lewis and skipper Alyssa Healy and help my
team lift the coveted title,” Athapaththu said. “The WPL is a very
dynamic tournament, and the UP Warriorz is a strong squad.”
The Sri Lankan captain, Athapaththu, did not sell at
the WPL 2024 auction. Many were taken aback by this, especially in light of her
2023 performance in the 20-over format. In 16 Twenty20 Internationals played
last year, she amassed 470 runs at 31.33, with a strike rate of almost 131, and
claimed eight wickets at 26.62. Athapaththu concluded the series as both the
top scorer and co-top wicket-taker for Sri Lanka, having also guided his team
to a historic first-series victory over England.
Additionally, the 33-year-old Athapaththu had an
amazing experience in the domestic T20 league. Athapaththu, who was originally
passed over in the overseas draft, was drafted in as a substitute and wrecked
havoc in the WBBL. Playing for Sydney Thunder, she finished the league with 552
runs in 14 innings at 42.46, which included five half-centuries, placing her
just five runs behind top scorer Beth Mooney. In addition, she claimed nine
wickets at a 6.83 economy rate, earning her the title of Player of the Tournament.
At Warriorz, Athapaththu could make for a destructive
opening pair with Healy. The 2024 edition of WPL will be played from February
23 to March 17 in Bengaluru and Delhi. Warriorz will begin their campaign on
February 24 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.