Women's T20 World Cup: Shashini Gimhani's injury forces changes in Sri Lanka's squad

Sri Lanka’s ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani has been ruled out of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales, after picking up a lower-back injury during training. Gimhani has played seven T20Is for Sri Lanka so far and scalped six wickets. She was set to play her maiden T20 World Cup but has now been replaced by right-arm seamer Chethana Vimukthi.

Vimukthi is yet to make her T20I debut, but has represented her country in three ODIs, all against New Zealand. The 24-year-old was part of the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament earlier this year and played one T20 for Sri Lanka A during the campaign.

The 15-member Sri Lanka squad left for the UK on June 2 and will be led by Chamari Athapaththu, who has featured in all the editions of the T20 World Cup so far.

Sri Lanka will hope for a better performance in the upcoming edition after being knocked out in the group stage itself during the last edition in 2024 played in the UAE, losing all four fixtures.

Sri Lanka are placed in Group B for the upcoming tournament alongside Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, West Indies and England. They will begin their campaign against the hosts England in the curtain-raiser fixture on June 12 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Sri Lanka will further take on New Zealand in Southampton (June 16), West Indies in Bristol (June 21), Ireland also in Bristol (June 23), and Scotland in Manchester (June 26).

Sri Lanka’s updated squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, Chethana Vimukthi.