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“I am not surprised, I am surprised because I was not chosen,” Athapaththu said in a media interaction on Tuesday. “But these things are not under my control. I think about what I can control because these decisions are made by someone else: some coaches or some (team) management. I can’t control these things, but what I can control is my hitting, my bowling. I just want to do what I can do. I make these decisions in good spirit and do the best I can.”
In the overseas draft before the WBBL, Athapaththu was left out before being recruited as a replacement player. She lit up the tournament with 552 runs, just five behind Beth Mooney, the leading run-getter, with 42.46 and a strike rate of 127.18. She also returned nine wickets with an economy of 6.83.
“Rejection is kind of a motivation for me,” he said. “It’s good for me because sometimes I can learn and I want to show what I can do. If someone says it can’t be done, be the first to do it; that’s my philosophy. I just want to show what I do.” I can do.”
In Warriorz, Athapaththu will face stiff competition from captain Alyssa Healy, Danni Wyatt, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone for a place in the XI. The problem of plenty last year was such that even South Africa’s fast bowler Shabnim Ismail had to sit out most of the time.
Athapaththu, who opens the batting for Sri Lanka, will have to compete with Healy and Wyatt. But she is willing to bide her time and she is ready to bat in the middle order if needed. Athapaththu last played as a non-starter for Sri Lanka in T20Is in February 2019.
“I know Alyssa Healy is a starter, my favorite Danni Wyatt is also a starter, even Tahlia McGrath can start, Grace Harris opens for Brisbane Heat (in the WBBL). We have to adapt, and the important thing is the (requirements) team. If the coaches and the team need it, I am happy to bat everywhere between numbers 1-6. I can do anything for my team, I am always a team player.”
Athapaththu also hoped Sri Lanka would organize a franchise competition for women and said such tournaments are not just about money.
“These leagues are important for all cricketers in the world. Some people think these leagues are about money. It’s not like that. We can share our knowledge and culture with other players. I can share the dressing room with the best cricketers in the world. world. I will learn a lot from them and share my knowledge, both with them and with our young players in Sri Lanka.”