The Sri Lanka women's national cricket team represents Sri Lanka in international women's cricket. One of ten teams competing in the ICC Women's Championship (the highest level of the sport), the team is organised by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sri Lanka made their One Day International (ODI) debut in 1997, against the Netherlands, and later in the year participated in the 1997 World Cup in India. The team has since participated in every edition of the World Cup, with a fifth-place finish at the 2013 event being its best performance. At the World Twenty20, Sri Lanka has likewise played at every tournament, although the team has never progressed past the first round. Sri Lanka played their first and only Test match to date in April 1998, defeating Pakistan.
Sri Lanka's international debut came in 1997 with a three-match ODI series against The Netherlands, which they lost 2–1. This was part of their preparation for the World Cup in India the following month, in which they reached the quarter finals, losing to England. The following year they hosted a tour by Pakistan, winning the three ODIs as well as what was the first Test match for both countries. It remains Sri Lanka's sole Test match. The Netherlands toured Sri Lanka again in 1999, and this time the Sri Lankans were much more successful, winning all five ODIs.
Sri Lanka finished sixth in the 2000 World Cup, and their next international engagement was against Pakistan at home in 2002, winning all six ODIs. They also won all six ODIs in an away series against the West Indies the following year.
In 2004 they hosted the inaugural Women's Asia Cup, which was reduced to a series against India after the withdrawal of Pakistan. They lost the series. The following year they again finished sixth in the World Cup. In 2005/06, they visited Pakistan to take part in the second Asia Cup, finishing as runners up to India.
In 2014, allegations of sexual abuse by Sri Lanka officials surfaced. Some players were apparently compelled to perform sexual favours for the officials to earn or keep their place in the national team.[8]
On 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka beat England in a pool match, which was a major upset in Women's ODI history. England are world's top ranked team and Sri Lanka is in underdog status, but this win gave a full of attention in World Cricket.[9] Sri Lanka women next beat India women and finally they finished as fifth in the rankings.
On 8 August 2018, after a five-year gap since his previous spell in charge, Harsha de Silva was reappointed as the head coach of the team by the SLC.[10][11]
In 2021, Sri Lanka qualified for the 2022-25 ICC Women's Championship after the abandonment of the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in qualifications for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup and the next cycle of the Women's Championship being decided via WODI rankings.
In 2023, Sri Lanka secured their first-ever series victory against England in England. Sri Lanka’s historic 2-1 victory was the first time England lost a bilateral T20I series to a team other than Australia since a 2-1 defeat to New Zealand in 2010.[12]
The recent results and forthcoming fixtures of Sri Lanka in international cricket:
International Match Summary — Sri Lanka Women[13][14][15]
Last updated 4 April 2024
Women's Test record versus other nations[13]
Records complete to Women's Test #106. Last updated 20 April 1998.
WODI record versus other nations[14]
Records complete to WODI #1322. Last updated 4 April 2024.
WT20I record versus other nations[15]
Records complete to WT20I #1515. Last updated 07 September 2023.
This lists all the players who were named in the squad for Sri Lanka women's cricket team tour of England 2023 or the 2022 Asian Games.
Updated as on 25 September 2023
