Shashini Gimhani: Sri Lanka’s Rising Teen Cricket Star

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. The team will be captained by the seasoned batter, Chamari Athapaththu.

The announcement, made on Thursday, 11 April, highlighted the inclusion of 15-year-old spin prodigy, Shashini Gimhani.

Shashini Gimhani, a left-arm wrist spinner, has secured her place in Sri Lanka’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2024. More details can be found here.

The young debutant earned her place in the senior women’s team following her remarkable performance in the recently concluded U19 Women’s tri-series against England and Australia.

In a T20 match against England, she achieved figures of 2/12, and in a one-day game against Australia last week, she returned figures of 3/48.

Gimhani gained recognition during the U19 tri-nation series for her unconventional bowling action, which has been compared to South Africa’s renowned spinner Paul Adams, famously known as the “frog in the blender”.

Highlighting unorthodox actions, from Malinga and Bumrah’s brilliance to Kohli’s occasional spin.

At 16 years and 149 days old, right-handed batter Vishmi Gunaratne made history in 2022 by becoming the youngest player to represent Sri Lanka in a Women’s T20I match.

If Gimhani, who is currently 15 years and 124 days old, gets the chance to play in the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, she could break this record.

Related: Groups and Fixtures for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024

The Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier is scheduled to start on 25 April, with the final set for 7 May. The tournament will feature ten teams, divided into two groups of five.

Group A: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Scotland, Uganda, USA
Group B: Ireland, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, UAE, Vanuatu

The top two teams from each group, the finalists, will secure their place in the main event in Bangladesh later this year.