Sri Lanka women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu is not retiring anytime soon, according to new head coach Jamie Siddons. And that’s a massive boost for the team ahead of a crucial T20 cycle. Siddons revealed that the 36-year-old skipper is keen to continue for “a lot longer,” provided she maintains her fitness — and recent performances suggest she’s far from slowing down. 

But the bigger message from the new coach is clear: Sri Lanka must play bold, aggressive T20 cricket. No more playing safe. Siddons wants more boundaries, smarter variations with the ball, and a fearless mindset to challenge the top sides. Having worked with stars like Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, Siddons says Sri Lanka’s players have the talent — they just need to be braver and back themselves. With the T20 World Cup in England looming, the message is simple: Chamari leads the charge, and Sri Lanka go on the attack.