Rashmika Sewwandi earns maiden ODI call-up in Sri Lanka's 15 for Pakistan series
Synopsis
Sri Lanka have handed teenage fast bowler Rashmika Sewwandi her maiden ODI cap while dropping Malki Madara for the Pakistan home series — a selection that signals a generational shift just as the ICC Women's Championship standings make every match count.
Key Takeaways
Rashmika Sewwandi receives her maiden ODI call-up in Sri Lanka's 15-member squad for the Pakistan series.
Malki Madara , Piumi Wathsala , Sugandika Kumari , and Nuthyangana are left out of the squad.
Chamari Athapaththu continues as captain, fresh from an unbeaten 106 off 61 balls at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Sri Lanka sit third in the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 with 8 points from 6 matches .
All three ODIs will be played in Hambantota on 23, 25, and 28 July .
Teenage fast bowler Rashmika Sewwandi has received her maiden ODI call-up as Sri Lanka named a 15-member squad on 17 July for the upcoming three-match home ODI series against Pakistan, with Chamari Athapaththu retained as captain. The series, scheduled entirely in Hambantota, will be played on 23, 25, and 28 July.
Sewwandi's Call-Up the Headline Move
The standout selection is the inclusion of the highly rated Sewwandi, whose pace has drawn considerable attention in domestic cricket. Her maiden call-up signals the selectors' intent to blood fresh talent ahead of a busy ICC Women's Championship cycle.
In contrast, Malki Madara — part of the side that defeated Bangladesh 2-1 in the previous ODI series — has been dropped. Piumi Wathsala, Sugandika Kumari, and Nuthyangana also miss out.
Athapaththu Leads a Settled Core
Captain Chamari Athapaththu comes into the series on the back of a standout ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where she smashed an unbeaten 106 off 61 balls against Ireland and returned figures of 1-23 to claim the Player of the Match award. She leads a largely unchanged group from that tournament.
The selectors have retained Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Dewmi Vihanga, and veteran spinner Inoka Ranaweera, preserving the core that took Sri Lanka to a third-place finish in Group B of the T20 World Cup — narrowly missing a semifinal berth on net run rate.
ICC Women's Championship Context
The series carries added weight in the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 standings. Sri Lanka currently sit third with eight points from six matches, and a series win against Pakistan would meaningfully strengthen their qualification push for the next Women's World Cup.
This comes amid growing momentum for women's cricket in the subcontinent, with both Sri Lanka and Pakistan looking to consolidate their standings in the championship cycle.
Full Squad
Sri Lanka squad: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Chethana Vimukthi, Inoka Ranaweera, Nimasha Meepage, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Rashmika Sewwandi, and Kawya Kavindi.
With Sewwandi's inclusion and the ICC Championship stakes in play, Sri Lanka's home series against Pakistan shapes up as more than a routine bilateral fixture.
Point of View
Sri Lanka cannot afford to experiment carelessly, yet the selectors have chosen this high-stakes series to introduce a teenage pacer. That confidence either reflects genuine depth in the pipeline or an underestimation of Pakistan's batting. Athapaththu's continued leadership provides the steadying hand, but the real story here is whether Sri Lanka's women's programme can sustain the T20 World Cup momentum across formats — something Asian sides have historically struggled to do.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rashmika Sewwandi and why is her ODI call-up significant?
Rashmika Sewwandi is a teenage fast bowler who has earned her first ODI call-up for Sri Lanka's home series against Pakistan in July 2025. Her inclusion is notable because she replaces more experienced players and signals the selectors' intent to build pace-bowling depth for the ICC Women's Championship cycle.
Why was Malki Madara dropped from the Sri Lanka squad?
Malki Madara was left out of the squad without an official reason stated by the selectors. She had been part of the side that beat Bangladesh 2-1 in the previous ODI series. Piumi Wathsala, Sugandika Kumari, and Nuthyangana also missed out in the same round of changes.
Where and when will the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ODI series be played?
All three ODIs will be played in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on 23, 25, and 28 July. The series is a home assignment for Sri Lanka.
How does this series affect Sri Lanka's ICC Women's Championship standings?
Sri Lanka currently sit third in the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 with eight points from six matches. A successful series against Pakistan would add points and strengthen their position in the qualification race for the next Women's World Cup.
What was Chamari Athapaththu's performance at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026?
Chamari Athapaththu was one of the standout performers at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, scoring an unbeaten 106 off 61 balls against Ireland and taking 1-23 to win the Player of the Match award. Sri Lanka finished third in Group B, narrowly missing the semifinals on net run rate.
