WPL 2024: Sri Lankan Chamari Athapaththu gets Lasith Malinga support ahead of player auction
New Delhi: Former Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga has made a case for the appointment of women’s team captain Chamari Athapaththu by one of the five franchises in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 Player Auction, which will take place in Mumbai on Saturday. Athapaththu remained unsold at the inaugural auction earlier this year.
Athapaththu was the face of women’s cricket in Sri Lanka and is perhaps one of the biggest attractions at this year’s auction purely because of her current form. The opening batsman finished as the second-highest run-getter in the recently concluded WBBL, scoring 552 runs in 14 matches. She also took nine wickets.
Malinga, who is currently associated with Mumbai Indians in IPL, stated that he would be surprised if the teams do not break the bank for Athapaththu. “2nd highest series scorer and PoS of #WBBL09, top scorer of FairBreak T20 League in 2022 and 2023. Also led Sri Lanka to their first ever ODI and T20I series wins against New Zealand and England. I’d be surprised if WPL teams don’t break the bank for a player of her quality! #ChamariAthapaththu #WPLAuction,” Malinga posted on X.
highest series scorer and PoS of #WBBL09
points scorer of FairBreak T20 League in 2022 and 2023
Also guidedto their first ever ODI & T20I series victories
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I’d be surprised if WPL teams don’t break the bank for a player of her quality!#ChamariAthapaththu #WPLAuction pic.twitter.com/ZRONRmp1FD
— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) December 8, 2023
points scorer of FairBreak T20 League in 2022 and 2023
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Besides the franchise competitions worldwide, Athapaththu also led Sri Lankan women to a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games, losing to India in the final. In the WPL 2024 auction, Athapaththu is placed in the Rs 30 lakh bracket, which is likely to rise as teams raise their paddles for the left-handed threat.