Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu has been punished with a 10 percent fine of her match fee following a breach of Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The infraction occurred during the final group fixture of the recently concluded Women’s ODI tri-nation series held in Colombo, where Sri Lanka took on South Africa. Despite a spirited contest, it was the Proteas who came out on top in a high-octane run-fest.
Athapaththu was charged under Article 2.2 of the ICC Code, which deals with “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.” The incident unfolded in the 32nd over of South Africa’s innings, when Annerie Dercksen struck a boundary off the Sri Lankan skipper. In a moment of frustration, Athapaththu removed her sunglasses and smashed them against the turf, shattering them completely.
The charge was brought forward by the quartet of umpires – Anna Harris, Dedunu de Silva, Lyndon Hannibal, and Nimali Perera. The case did not require a formal hearing as Athapaththu accepted responsibility and the proposed sanctions handed down by match referee Michelle Pereira from the Emirates ICC International Panel. In addition to the fine, the 34-year-old also received one demerit point, her first in a 24-month span.
Sanctions for Level 1 breaches range from an official warning to a maximum of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points. Athapaththu’s emotional reaction adds a rare blemish to an otherwise passionate campaign from Sri Lanka, who gave fans plenty to cheer about throughout the series.
The tournament began on a rocky note for the hosts, suffering a crushing nine-wicket defeat to India in the opening game. However, Sri Lanka bounced back with commendable resilience. In their next fixture, they toppled South Africa by five wickets, thanks to an inspired bowling effort led by Malki Madara’s 4/50 and Dewmi Vihanga’s 3/41. With the bat, Hasini Perera contributed a steady 42, while Harshitha Madavi’s 77 and Kavisha Dilhari’s 61 ensured a clinical chase.
Sri Lanka’s most memorable triumph came against India, where they chased down a formidable 276 to seal a nail-biting three-wicket win. Sugandika Kumari’s 3/44 and Athapaththu’s 3/43 disrupted India’s plans with the ball, while Nilakshi de Silva’s blazing 56 off 33 balls turned the game on its head in the final stages.
The final group match saw Sri Lanka go down to South Africa by 76 runs, yet there were still noteworthy performances. Dewmi Vihanga registered a remarkable 5/43, while Anushka Sanjeewani chipped in with 43 and Athapaththu added a solid 52, keeping spirits high ahead of the final clash.
Despite Sri Lanka’s spirited journey, it was India who emerged triumphant in the tri-series, sealing a dominant 97-run win in the final showdown. Smriti Mandhana’s elegant 116 set the tone, while Sneh Rana showcased her all-round prowess with a tournament haul of 15 wickets from just 5 matches, underlining India’s supremacy.
For Sri Lanka, the campaign was a mix of fiery performances and emotional intensity, embodied no better than by their passionate skipper. As they regroup and reflect, the lessons from this series—both triumphs and missteps—could fuel their future ambitions on the international stage.
