Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapathu After the defeat of his team, he evaluated his leadership emotionally West India in the year ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026he admitted he felt he had “failed as captain” after another campaign that could have ended without a semi-final appearance. The seasoned all-rounder, who has represented Sri Lanka for nearly two decades, took personal responsibility for the loss and reflected on the sting of the setback despite a career full of individual achievements.
Chamari blames Athapaththu after a crucial defeat
A five-wicket defeat for West Indies ended Sri Lanka’s qualification hopes by the slimmest of margins. With just two points from three matches, the team now requires convincing wins in their remaining games and favorable results elsewhere to stay in contention.
Speaking after the match, an emotional Athapaththu did not hide his disappointment. She described the feeling as “sadness beyond words” and regretted not being able to lead Sri Lanka to the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup despite spending 18 years with the national team.
“It’s sad beyond words. I think I’ve played for the national team for 18 years, I never got the chance to take my team to the semi-finals of the World Cup. I personally achieved a lot, but I think I failed as a captain. I think it’s a big pain for a player. Actually, now I have to bear that pain.” Athapaththu told the media after the match.
The skipper was particularly critical of his performance. Sri Lanka got off to a disastrous start, slipping to 9/3 in the first three overs, with Athapaththu among the early dismissals. The innings never recovered as the team struggled for just 98 runs.
Reflecting on his dismissal, he admitted that he should have shown greater responsibility and believed that a softer blow from him could have changed the outcome. Instead of pointing fingers at his teammates, he insisted the burden rests on his shoulders as captain and one of the team’s most experienced players.
“I think I tried my best, I think I should have played more responsible. If I had played more responsible today, we could have won this match today. I regret that, especially I don’t like to blame anyone and I think I have more responsibility as a player, as the captain of the team and as a player with more experience. So I feel like I lost my last chance.” Athapaththu added.
A long career marked by personal success but team disappointment
Athapaththu’s comments underscored the emotional toll of years spent trying to make progress on the global stage. While she has established herself as Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in women’s T20 internationals and one of the country’s greatest cricketers, World Cup success remains elusive.
Sri Lanka have not made it past the first round of the tournament since 2009 and Athapaththu has featured in every campaign during that time. He also captained the side in six editions of the competition, consistently carrying the expectations with both batting and leadership responsibilities.
His record as captain reflects the challenges the team has faced over the years. Sri Lanka have won 49 matches and lost 62 matches in 114 women’s T20s. In women’s internationals, only Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has led her side in more T20Is.
Also READ: Hayley Mathews goes wild as West Indies thrash Sri Lanka in the T20 Women’s World Cup 2026.
The future ahead of the 2028 World Cup remains uncertain
Despite the disappointment, Sri Lanka’s campaign is not mathematically over. Upcoming matches against Scotland and Ireland offer an opportunity to improve their position, although qualification will depend on other results going their way.
Athapaththu, now 36, also answered questions about his future beyond the ongoing tournament. He avoided making any commitments regarding the 2028 T20 World Cup in Pakistan, explaining that his decision would depend on maintaining both fitness and performance standards.
The veteran said he is committed to keeping himself in the best shape possible and will continue to play if he can contribute meaningfully and the team still values ​​his presence. For now, his focus remains on helping Sri Lanka finish the tournament strongly and keep their semi-final hopes alive.
“I can’t give any explanation about it yet, because of my age, I’m 36 years old now, so it’s a decision about fitness and everything. So I’m doing my best to keep my fitness at a good level and I’m trying to keep my skills at a high level. If the team wants me, I’ll play in the future, but with my performance level and my fitness level, it will be decided whether I play or not.” Athapaththu further added.
Also READ: How India can qualify for T20 Women’s World Cup 2026 semi-finals after defeat to South Africa
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
