With a three-year contract, Chamari Athapaththu has joined the Sydney Thunder for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League. The Sri Lankan all-rounder signed under the WBBL’s new multi-year contract provision, which allows each of the eight clubs to sign one foreign player for up to three years outside of the season’s player draft. This contrasts with previous seasons when the overseas recruits were signed for a single season. Athapaththu has committed to being available for the full three-year league, which includes the forthcoming one that begins on October 27.
“Committing to Sydney Thunder for the next three seasons was an easy decision because I believe in the vision of this club, and I want to be part of its future success,” said Athapaththu, who is currently plying her trade for the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred.
“There’s so much to love about my Sydney Thunder family. My teammates are not just colleagues; they are friends who push each other to be better every day, [which] is important to me… It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”
Athapaththu, the WBBL Player of the Tournament 2023–24, was left out of the initial foreign draft last year before Thunder eventually signed her. The Sri Lankan captain, who was playing for her third different team after the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades, came on as a replacement and in no time became the most dominant player in the competition. She amassed 552 runs at 42.46, second only to Beth Mooney’s 557, a strike rate of 127.18, and 9 wickets at an economy rate of 6.83. She also took home the Alex Blackwell medal, which is given to the Thunder’s WBBL Player of the Season.
Athapaththu, who now ranks sixth among batters and fifth among all-rounders in the ICC T20I rankings, helped Sri Lanka defeat seven-time and reigning champion India in the Women’s Asia Cup T20 Final at home in Dambulla last month. Leading from the front, the 34-year-old scored 304 runs at an incredible average of 101.33, including a career-high 119 not out, to top the standings.
“It’s incredibly exciting to have Chamari return to the Thunder and be available for the entire WBBL 2024 tournament,” Thunder GM Trent Copeland said. “We know other teams were interested in signing her, but we made every effort to ensure she came back.
“Chamari is obviously an exceptional cricket player, but she is also an exceptional human being who is team first and fan first… We are looking forward to Chamari returning and bringing our fans so much joy, particularly our multicultural fans that got behind her in such numbers last season.”
Sydney Thunder current squad: Chamari Athapaththu (International), Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Saskia Horley, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson
