Vishmi Gunaratne returned to Sri Lanka’s ODI squad after being included in the 15-man squad for the home series against Pakistan. This could mean Sri Lanka potentially reinstates her as the opening pairing with captain Chamari Atapattu.
Wicket-keeper Anushka Sanjeevani and uncapped seamer Rashmika Sevvandi also earned recalls, while Kaushini Nutyangana, Piumi Vatsala, Malki Madara and Sugandika Kumari made way for the team that thrashed Bangladesh 3-0 in April.
Of those excluded, Madara may feel the most left out. The 25-year-old seamer has taken eight wickets in six ODIs since the start of the year – her most productive spell in the format since debut in 2025 – but Sri Lanka chose to test 19-year-old fast Suwandi instead.
Given the conditions in Hambantota, where all three ODIs and subsequent T20s will be played, there is not expected to be as much of a turnaround, the exclusion of the Kumari tracks – especially given the squad reduction from 16 to 15 players, as well as other spin options available such as Inoka Ranaweera, Dhumi Wihanga, Kavisha Dilhari, Nimasha Meepage and Atapattu.
However, Gunaratne’s recall created a dilemma in choosing the top leadership of the order. Since returning to the starting position at the start of the year, Hasini Perera has made 229 runs at an average of 38.16, including two fifties. Her brief stint at No. 3 in the second half of last year, which produced scores of 44, 4 and 85 in three innings, hints at a return to the position to accommodate Gunaratne in the XI.
The rest of the batting line-up is shaping up as expected with the return of Sanjeevani, who is also expected to bolster Sri Lanka’s lower-order batting.
However, the squad retains a youthful flair, with 23-year-old Kavya Kavindi the most experienced of the bunch, with five matches under her belt. Chetana Vimukthi, 24, has played three ODIs while Syuvandi is yet to make her ODI debut.
The three ODIs will be played on July 23, 25 and 28, all in Hambantota. The series will be part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-2029.
Sri Lanka squad for Women’s ODI series against Pakistan
Chamari Atapattu (captain), Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeevani, Chetana Vimukthi, Inoka Ranaweera, Nimasha Meepage, Imesha Dulani, Dyumi Vihanga, Rashmika Sewwandi, Kavya Kavindi