As Sri Lankan women cricketers headed for a practice session at the Feroz Shah Kotla on a sunny Monday morning, captain Shashikala Siriwardene limped her way to the ground. Nursing a hamstring injury, she skipped regular drills, and was busy observing performances of teammates before their World T20 opener against New Zealand.
Siriwardene was keeping a close eye on everybody’s fitness, and as she started speaking to a handful of scribes present at the venue, the confidence was showing. It’s not often that you get to see a women’s team captain so confident. “If you are a Services woman, you have to be ready for all challenges,” she told Express.
Employed by the Sri Lankan Navy for five years now, the senior cricketer has learned how to take things in her stride, and perhaps that’s why she dares to fight odds. And not just Siriwardene, in the 15-member Lankan squad, 14 are Services personnel. While five are from the Sri Lanka Air Force, six players represent the Navy, and three are from the Army. Harshita Madhavi Samaravikrama is the only non-Services cricketer in the squad, as she represents the Colts Cricket Club.
For the last five years, Services has appointed quite a few women cricketers under sports quota. “In Sri Lanka, most players are hired by various wings of the Services. This has given players a security, and this also motivates them to play better,” team manager Vanessa de Silva said.
Even though players participate in the inter-Services tournament, they spend most of their time at the Cricket Sri Lanka Max Academy in Colombo. “They practise daily at the Academy, and because of the tight schedule, it’s not always possible for them to join the forces,” she said.
Even though players undergo basic training, none of them have been on any mission. “Their job is to play cricket and that’s what they have been doing,” De Silva, also the country’s first ever captain, added. She believes that over the years, the game has grown widely among women. “Now, the hype is more, and with T20 cricket coming in, more and more women are taking up the sport. It is a good sign. Things were different in our times,” she pointed out.
With flow of money and job opportunities coming their way, the players have also benefited. “All players are mentally strong, and it’s good to see so many youngsters taking up cricket,” the team’s bowling coach and former cricketer Nuwan Zoysa pointed out.
And being associated with Services has also made players stronger. “This team has the determination to fight back, and that’s something unique,” Zoysa said.