The UP Warriors have included Chamari Atapattu in their squad for the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) season, replacing English fast bowler Lauren Bell. Atapattu, the captain of the Sri Lankan team, will be participating in the WPL for the first time.

 

Chamari Atapattu

Chamari Atapattu, who was awarded the ICC Women's ODI Player of the Year in 2023, joins the UP Warriors with a base price of 30 lakh rupees. The English bowler Lauren Bell opted not to play in the WPL to prepare for a series against New Zealand.

 

Atapattu, expressing her enthusiasm about joining the WPL, stated, "I will give my best in the WPL. I want to work with coach John Lewis and captain Ellyse Perry to make my team champions. WPL is a great and big tournament, and the UP Warriors team is very strong."

 

Having played 122 T20 matches for Sri Lanka, Atapattu has scored 2651 runs with a strike rate of over 131, including eight fifties and one century. She has also taken 40 wickets with an economy rate of 6.70.

 

After going unsold in the first season of the WPL, Atapattu showcased excellent performances in international and franchise cricket before being picked up by the UP Warriors for the second season at a base price of 30 lakh rupees.

 

Speaking about her inclusion, Atapattu said, "I will focus on giving my best in WPL. I want to make my team the champions, working with coach John Lewis and captain Ellyse Perry. WPL is a fantastic and significant tournament, and the UP Warriors' team is very strong."

 

In the previous season of the Big Bash League, Atapattu was named the Player of the Tournament. She played for the Sydney Thunder, scoring 552 runs and taking nine wickets in 15 matches.

 

Currently playing in the Super Smash in New Zealand, Atapattu has maintained a strike rate of over 128, scoring more than 221 runs in nine T20 matches. She has also taken nine wickets for the Northern Districts.

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The WPL final is scheduled a day before England's series in New Zealand, starting on March 17, while the tournament kicks off on February 23. Lauren Bell had already withdrawn her name before the tournament began, and the participation of the other England players in the WPL is yet to be confirmed. UP Warriors' coach John Lewis is also associated with the England team.