Harshitha Samarawickrama to captain Sri Lanka at ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy
Synopsis
Sri Lanka head into the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in UAE without captain Chamari Athapaththu, who is playing WBBL in Australia. Left-hander Harshitha Samarawickrama takes the armband — and the most remarkable subplot is Sathya Sandeepani's T20I return after six years away, recalling a career interrupted since February 2020.
Key Takeaways
Harshitha Samarawickrama named captain of Sri Lanka's 14-member squad for the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in UAE .
Regular skipper Chamari Athapaththu is absent, currently playing for Hobart Hurricanes in the WBBL .
Sathya Sandeepani returns to the T20 set-up six years after her only T20I, against India in February 2020 .
The tournament has expanded from 5 teams to 10 teams ; defending champions Thailand are in Group B.
Sri Lanka open against Ireland on 12 November ; the final is on 25 November at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, Ajman .
The top three teams from each group advance to the Super Six stage.
Left-handed batter Harshitha Samarawickrama will lead Sri Lanka at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in the United Arab Emirates, after the country's cricket board unveiled a 14-member squad on 4 November. Regular captain Chamari Athapaththu has been left out of the side, with the veteran currently representing the Hobart Hurricanes in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia.
Key Inclusions and Notable Returns
Vishmi Gunarathne and Nilakshika Silva have been recalled after missing out on selection for the Asian Games. Fast bowler Malki Madara has also earned her place back in the squad, having been absent from both the Asia Cup and the Asian Games.
The most striking selection is that of Sathya Sandeepani, who has been recalled to the T20 set-up a full six years after her only T20 International appearance — a match against India in February 2020. Her return underlines the selectors' intent to cast a wider net ahead of a significantly expanded tournament.
A Bigger Stage: Tournament Expands to 10 Teams
This edition of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy has grown from five teams in the previous edition to 10 teams. Sri Lanka are among five Full Members in the competition alongside Ireland, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. The remaining five sides are hosts UAE, defending champions Thailand, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Scotland.
All matches will be held in Ajman, UAE, at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground and the Seven Districts Sports Club.
Sri Lanka's Group A Draw and Fixture Schedule
Sri Lanka have been placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, and the UAE. Group B features Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka open their campaign against Ireland on 12 November at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground. They follow up with matches against Scotland on 13 November, Papua New Guinea on 15 November, and the UAE on 16 November — both latter games at the Seven Districts Sports Club.
Super Six, Final and What's at Stake
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, with matches scheduled for 20, 22, and 23 November. Each qualifier will face the three sides that progress from the opposing group. The top two teams at the end of that stage will contest the final on 25 November at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground.
For Sri Lanka, navigating the group stage without their talismanic captain will be a test of squad depth — but the returns of Gunarathne, Silva, Madara, and the remarkable comeback of Sandeepani suggest a squad eager to make a statement in Athapaththu's absence.
Full Sri Lanka squad: Harshitha Samarawickrama (captain), Sanjana Kavindi, Imesha Dulani, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sathya Sandeepani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Malki Madara, and Chethana Vimukthi.
Point of View
But it also means Sri Lanka face a tougher path to the final even without their star player. How Samarawickrama handles the captaincy under pressure will be watched closely ahead of bigger ICC events.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining Sri Lanka at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy?
Left-handed batter Harshitha Samarawickrama will captain Sri Lanka at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in the UAE. Regular skipper Chamari Athapaththu was not included in the 14-member squad, as she is currently playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia.
Why is Chamari Athapaththu not in Sri Lanka's squad?
Chamari Athapaththu was not selected for the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy squad. She is currently representing the Hobart Hurricanes in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia.
Who is Sathya Sandeepani and why is her selection significant?
Sathya Sandeepani is a Sri Lanka women's cricketer who has been recalled to the T20 squad six years after her only T20 International appearance, which came against India in February 2020. Her return is the most notable selection in the squad and signals a fresh look from the selectors.
When does Sri Lanka play their first match at the tournament?
Sri Lanka begin their ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy campaign on 12 November against Ireland at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground in Ajman, UAE.
How does the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy format work?
The 10 teams are split into two groups of five. The top three sides from each group advance to the Super Six stage, where each team faces the three qualifiers from the other group. The top two teams then meet in the final, scheduled for 25 November at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground in Ajman.
