WPL Season 2: Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu Joins UP Warriorz, Replacing Lauren Bell

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Bangalore, Jan 26: The UP Warriorz, who secured third place in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL), have enlisted Sri Lankan women's cricket team captain Chamari Athapaththu as a replacement for English fast bowler Lauren Bell ahead of the upcoming 2024 season.

The premier domestic T20 tournament - that will see top female cricketers in the world showcase their talent - is scheduled to begin on February 23 and conclude with a grand finale on March 17.

Lauren Bell, an English cricketer, had previously represented UP Warriorz in Season 1 of the WPL, held in Mumbai in 2023. Chamari Athapaththu, renowned for her expertise and dynamism in T20 cricket, will be debuting in the Women's Premier League.

With an impressive track record of 122 T20 International appearances for Sri Lanka, Athapaththu showcased exceptional form in 2023, accumulating 470 runs with a remarkable strike rate of 130.91. Her tally of 15 sixes throughout the year marked a personal high in Women's T20Is.

Recently, the left-handed batter emerged as the second-highest run-scorer in the 2023 Women's Big Bash League, amassing 552 runs in 14 innings at an average of 42.46 for the Sydney Thunders. Additionally, her right-arm off-break bowling prowess contributed nine wickets to the team's cause.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Athapaththu stated, "I am thankful to the UP Warriorz and Capri Sports for entrusting me with a role in the upcoming Women's Premier League season. I am eager to contribute to the team's success under the leadership of head coach Jon Lewis and captain Alyssa Healy, aiming to clinch the coveted title. With a strong squad, the WPL promises dynamic competition."

Regretting Bell's absence, Kshemal Waingankar, COO of UP Warriorz, expressed excitement about Athapaththu's inclusion, highlighting her decade-long contribution to T20I cricket and her status as a global ambassador for women's cricket.

Led by Alyssa Healy, UP Warriorz will kick off their WPL campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 24.