WPL2024: Lauren Bell is replaced at UP Warriorz by Chamari Athapaththu.

January 26, 2024, Bangalore: The English fast bowler Lauren Bell has been replaced by Sri Lankan women’s cricket team captain Chamari Athapaththu in the UP Warriorz, who finished third in the WPL’s inaugural season.

The Women’s Premier League 2024 will take place from Friday, February 23 to Sunday, March 17. The English cricket player had participated in the 2023 Mumbai WPL Season 1 as a member of the UP Warriorz squad.

Athapaththu, one of the most skilled and versatile cricket players in the T20 league, is set to make her WPL debut. She has represented her nation in 122 T20Is, and in 2023, she has been playing well. The aggressive batter had a stellar strike-rate of 130.91 and finished 2023 with 470 runs. She also set a personal record in Women’s T20Is with her 15 sixes this year.

More recently, the left-hand hitter averaged 42.46 in the Women’s Big Bash League 2023, finishing as the second-highest run scorer with 552 runs in 14 innings. For the Sydney Thunders, the right-arm off-break bowler also claimed nine wickets.

“I am appreciative that Capri Sports and the UP Warriorz have chosen to trust me for the forthcoming Women’s Premier League season. Together with head coach Jon Lewis and captain Alyssa Healy, I’m excited to give the squad my all and help them win the desired championship. The all-rounder from Sri Lanka stated, “The WPL is a very dynamic competition, and the UP Warriorz is a strong squad.”

Lauren’s absence from our team this season is regrettable, but we hope she has a great summer. Having said that, we are thrilled to have Chamari Athapaththu join the UP Warriorz. She has been a mainstay of Twenty20 international cricket for more than ten years, and we are excited to have her join our team. She has been a fantastic global representative for women’s cricket, and the UP Warriorz COO, Kshemal Waingankar, stated, “We are thrilled to have her experience and knowledge among our ranks this season.”

On Saturday, February 24, the UP Warriorz, captained by Alyssa Healy, will play the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to open the WPL season.