Chamari Athapaththu Goes from Strength to Strength – Wins Prestigious ICC Player of the Month Award
In a proud from strength to strength ascension, Sri Lanka Women’s cricket captain Chamari Athapaththu has won the prestigious ICC Player of the Month award for July , 2024 in what has been her second ICC player of the month award this year. Chamari won the previous award in May.
The Sri Lankan skipper beat a top field to her latest July award bypassing India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in what was her third ICC women’s player of the month award making her the joint second most successful cricketer in the women’s player of the month awards tied on three awards with West Indies Hayley Matthews behind Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner (four wins).
Chamari Athapaththu, who is now involved in Hundred league tournament in England expressed her jubilation saying, “I am happy and honoured to have been chosen as the ICC women’s player of the month for the third time and it is heartening to see such reckoning for the efforts of mine, achieved with good support of my teammates and coaches being continuously recognised by the cricketing world said Chamari.”
She went on to echo that ‘I believe these recognition will send a positive message to thousands of girls who are already playing cricket in my country and want to play for the country that commitment and dedication will one day pay off.’
The Lankan Women’s captain’s recent foray to the summit of success has marked a milestone euphoria that includes first ever T20 series wins against England and South Africa while defeating defending champions India to the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup.
In addition Sri Lanka also featured in the ICC women’s T20 world cup qualifier 2024 last April in Abu Dhabui and won all the games to qualify for the global mega event in October. Last month Sri Lanka won first ever Asia Cup T 20 title under the leadership of Chamari Athapaththu. She scored first ever Asia Cup T-20 century with career best unbeaten 119 against Malaysia.
Further she scored unbeaten 49 against Thailand and back to back match winning fifties against Pakistan and India in the tournament semi final and final also was adjudged player of the series with superb batting performances.
The skipper hit 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and a staggering strike rate of 146.85.
Chamari is expected to take part in a three ODI match series against Ireland next week.
