Lauren Bell and Heather Knight have both withdrawn from the upcoming season of WPL .Chamari Athapaththu has joined UP Warriorz in place of Lauren Bell, who withdrew from the forthcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL). The South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk has been brought in by Royal Challengers Bangalore to replace England skipper Heather Knight, who has also withdrawn from the forthcoming WPL season.
The women of England had to decide between club and nation. Bell recently told the Warriorz setup that she wants to concentrate on getting ready for the New Zealand series, which starts on March 19 in Dunedin, just two days after the WPL final in Delhi, according to information obtained by cricksportonline. 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 traveling to New Zealand.
According to the ECB, “When schedules were released, it became clear to be available and prepare optimally for the first game of England’s tour to New Zealand would mean missing the end of the WPL campaign and Knight has decided to prioritise participating in the full international tour whilst allowing the franchise to find a replacement for the whole competition.”
“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 stated. “The WPL is a very dynamic tournament, and the UP Warriorz is a strong squad.”
Sri Lankan captain, Athapaththu, went unsold in the WPL 2024 auction. Many people are surprised by this
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.
More recently, Athapaththu played for Northern Districts in the Women’s Super Smash in New Zealand. In nine games, she amassed 221 runs at a strike average of 128.48, including one half-century. She contributed nine wickets as well, with her best bowling stats being 4 for 19. Northern Districts’ campaign came to an early end on Friday when they fell to Central Districts 45 runs to none in the Eliminator.
In 122 T20Is, Athapaththu has amassed 2651 runs at a strike rate of 22.65, including eight fifty-fives and the lone century made by a female Sri Lankan. In the format, she has also amassed 40 wickets at an economy rate of 6.70.
Athapaththu was named the ODI Cricketer of the Year by the ICC recently and she also became the first Sri Lankan to top the ODI women’s rankings last year.
On February 24, the Warriors will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match of the season.
Athapaththu and Healy might be a potent opening duo at Warriorz. The 2024 World Premier League will be place in Bengaluru and Delhi from February 23 to March 17. On February 24, Warriorz will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their inaugural game of the season.
De Klerk has participated in 46 Twenty20 Internationals thus far, amassing 419 runs and claiming 35 wickets. The 24-year-old has previously played in the Hundred and WBBL. She is presently playing with the South African team in the Australian T20I series.
