THE INAUGURAL Under 19 Women’s World Cup is just around the corner, with 16 countries set to battle it out in South Africa this month for the chance to be crowned the inaugural champion.

Ahead of the tournament, we here at Rookie Me Central will be previewing all the countries competing at the tournament, looking at their squads, their fixtures and how things might go for them.

In this preview, we take a look at Sri Lanka.

Now much like the West Indies, Sri Lanka has struggled at senior international women’s level for some time now, so will be really keen to change that at this Under 19 World Cup.

The odds may be against it to go far in the tournament, but it should realistically make the second stage of the tournament. Just finish above either the Americans or the Bangladeshis and it will make the Super 6s stage.

Topping the group will be a tall order, because the group also contains one of the arguable tournament favourites in Australia.

Sri Lanka took a long time to reveal the squad, but it has finally revealed it just over a week out from the start of the tournament.

Unlike some of the other teams competing at this tournament, there is not a lot of senior international experience in this Sri Lankan side.

The only player in the team with any senior international experience is the captain Vishmi Gunaratne.

17 year old Gunaratne made her senior international debut last year, and has played in both T20s and One Dayers at senior international level.

She made her debut in the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers, and has nine T20 internationals to her name so far.  

Sri Lanka Squad

Vishmi Gunaratne (C), Dahami Sanethma, Umaya Rathnayake, Rashmi Nethranjalee, Rashmika Sewwandi, Dewmi Vihanga, Manudi Nanayakkara, Sumudu Nisansala, Pamoda Shaini, Vidushika Perera, Dulanga Dissanayake, Rishmi Sanjana, Nethmi Senarathne, Harini Perera, Vihara Sewwandi

Sri Lanka Fixture

January 14 – USA

January 16 – Bangladesh

January 18 – Australia