Chamari Athapaththu Clinches ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu has won the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for July 2024, surpassing India's Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. She led her team to their first Women's Asia Cup title, marking her third award win and inspiring young cricketers globally.

Sri Lanka's charismatic captain, Chamari Athapaththu, has triumphed over tough competition, surpassing India's Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, to secure the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for July 2024. The prolific month saw her achieving numerous milestones, including guiding Sri Lanka to their first Women's Asia Cup win, defeating the seven-time champs India.

This accolade marks the 34-year-old's third ICC Women's Player of the Month award, positioning her as the joint second-most successful player in this category. Alongside West Indies' Hayley Matthews and just behind Australia's Ashleigh Gardner, who holds four awards, Athapaththu expressed her gratitude and pride in receiving such recognition. 'I am happy and honored to have been chosen for the third time. It is heartening to see my efforts, supported by my teammates and coaches, being continuously acknowledged,' she said.

Athapaththu believes these honors will inspire countless young female cricketers in Sri Lanka and beyond, motivating them to pursue their cricketing dreams with dedication. Under her captaincy, Sri Lanka has achieved several milestones over the last year, including their first-ever T20I series wins against England and South Africa.

In the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 held in Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka's unbeaten performance secured their spot in the global event. However, it was Athapaththu's contribution to the historic Women's Asia Cup victory in July that stood out. Leading from the front, she scored a career-best 119* against Malaysia and crucial half-centuries in the consecutive knockout games against Pakistan and India.

Accumulating 304 runs at a striking rate of 146.85 and contributing with key wickets, including one in the final, Athapaththu's all-round performance set her apart as the Player of the Tournament. Her leadership and form have been instrumental in Sri Lanka's recent successes, further solidifying her legacy in women's cricket.

(With inputs from agencies.)