9 February - Cape Town - Sri Lanka Captain Chamari Athapaththu pre-match press conference

[Reporter]

Could you just talk to us a little bit about what it means for Sri Lanka to play at this tournament and what your expectations are?

[Athapaththu]

Actually I'm really happy to be playing here. We really enjoy these conditions because I feel the same weather - like Sri Lankan weather. So our preparation is good for this T20 World Cup. We played in a couple of domestic seasons, T20 and 50 over and as well as we played against boys teams, under 17 and under 19 boys. So our preparation is really good. I feel this wicket is a bit slow. Last couple of games we have been playing in different, different conditions but this is an international venue so I think this wicket is really good for the batters as well. So yeah, our preparation is good.

[Reporter]

Do you feel like there's still a big gap between perhaps the better funded women's cricket nations and those that are not? And do you think this tournament can play a role in making that gap smaller?

[Athapaththu]

Yeah definitely, I know a lot of good cricketers playing for Australia, England and New Zealand and South Africa as well. So the top four nations in this tournament as a Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh has good opportunity to play with these girls and share that knowledge and good competition and good experience for the youngsters in my team as well. So this is good exposure.

[Reporter]

Thinking about Sri Lanka at global tournaments but also you personally, I think you said this might be the sixth time you've been to South Africa. You've got a crop of a lot of good young players so as someone who's played in a lot of global tournaments and a lot in South Africa, what have you told your younger group?

[Athapaththu]

Actually I have a lot of youngsters in my team so really good opportunity for them because I know some of South African senior players retired but they have some good players especially Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim and Wolvaardt So I have a few youngsters as well. This is really good opportunity for my youngsters and I just told my youngsters play freely. Don't take big pressure on their shoulders. This is one game, one ball, one time. So this format, anything can happen. Just a minute, just a second. We can't predict any decision in this format. This format is really open for all teams because this is not a 50-over format. This is a T20 so small format, small version.

[Reporter]

Sune was in here earlier saying they're expecting a lot of spin to come from your team tomorrow. But of course I don't know about spin. Tell us about your fast bowling qualities.

[Athapaththu]

We have three fast bowlers, two experienced fast bowlers and a youngster. But we think these wickets are really good space ball wickets but we predict that but the thing is last two games we are playing different conditions and different balls. But these conditions are international. I think this wicket is really good for the fast bowlers. We have good fast bowlers as well. So, we think about the condition of the pitch tomorrow, what type of wicket we have to play. So we will decide which combination we have to use.

[Reporter]

Chamari, what did you learn from your warm-up games and how did you experience yesterday against West Indies?

[Athapaththu]

We played two games against Ireland and West Indies. Both games were very close games. We played super over and we won the super over as well. So good cricket last three days. We have good experience with just the conditions. The best thing is the youngsters performed well except me because last couple of years there was a lot of predicament in my shoulders. But this tournament my plus point is Harshitha playing really good and the leading captain. She's playing really good cricket last couple of months. And Nilakshi and Anushka, they performed well. So now I feel free because I can just play my free game because I don't have any pressure for tomorrow in this tournament. I just play my natural game.

[Reporter]

Chamari you speak about your youngsters. Just how excited are they to play in the opening game at Newlands tomorrow?

[Athapaththu]

Actually, every game and everything is a challenge. So as a cricketer we have to accept the challenge and I told and I share my knowledge with my youngsters. I told them don't take any pressure on your shoulders. Just a game. I said there's a school game, there's a club game, think like that. Play a natural game. I know we are playing in South African conditions and I accept a lot of South African spectators. I know some kind of pressure from our side and South Africa as well because they are playing in their home conditions. They are host team, they are playing in front of their fans. So, some big pressure for South Africa as well. I just want them to play positive cricket freely. That's what I told my team.

[Reporter]

Besides cricket, how have you enjoyed your preparations in Cape Town?

[Athapaththu]

South Africa is a very nice country and Cape Town is a very nice city and we enjoy the weather and the environment. So really nice. I think I am happy to be here and we don't have much free time but when we get the free time we have to go around the city and we go for safari as well. It's nice.

[Reporter]

Focusing on tomorrow's game, there's obviously a lot of pressure on South Africa with the home crowd and playing at home. Do you feel like that puts you and your team in a better position to just go out there and play your game and play what's in front of you with a sense of almost a fleet at those nations? that almost beneficial to you as for your team and for yourself because of the large amount of pressure on South Africa?

[Athapaththu]

Yeah, obviously because South Africa is our host country and they know they are a very good team and we know our skill and what kind of pressure they have and we stick to our plans. Other thing, we don't get any pressure because we all know South Africa has a lot of experienced players. They play a lot of cricket all around the world, especially franchise cricket, they play a lot of cricket. But as my team we have few senior players and a lot of youngsters but I will trust myself, not only me but my team and they have good potential and they are very skilful players so if they are playing their best I know we can beat any team.

Reporter]

Considering the warm-up, we lost one match and could have tried for that. How are you going to cope with this in tomorrow's match?

[Athapaththu]

Yes, we played very well in the first match. I know the Ireland team played very well. They beat Australia. In the West Indies match, we tried to win until the last over. Harshika and Vishmi are playing well. We played very well in the first match and we played very well in the second match and we played very well in the third match. There were a lot of good players and I have a lot of confidence in them. I know they will play.

[Reporter]

Can you explain the composition of the team playing tomorrow?

[Athapaththu]

Have not decided exactly about it. We are going to look at the wicket and decide on it tomorrow morning. There are 13 players that we have decided and 11 of them will play tomorrow.

[Reporter]

Thank you. All the best summary for tomorrow.