Chamari Athapaththu won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July 2024

ICC Women's Player of the Month for July 2024. / Getty Images 

Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lankan cricket captain, has been named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for July 2024. 

This is Athapaththu's third win in this category, tying her with West Indies' Hayley Matthews for the second-most awards, trailing Australia's Ashleigh Gardner by one. 

Athapaththu led her team to a historic victory in the Women's Asia Cup 2024, defeating seven-time champions India. Her performance was instrumental in Sri Lanka's success, securing new landmarks and setting several milestones over the last 12 months. 

Under Athapaththu's leadership, Sri Lanka has achieved first-ever T20I series wins against England and South Africa. They also qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in October, winning all their games in the qualifier held in Abu Dhabi.

Athapaththu's batting prowess was on full display during the Women's Asia Cup. After a modest start against Bangladesh, she hit a career-best 119* against Malaysia, followed by unbeaten 49* against Thailand. She sealed Sri Lanka's victory with back-to-back fifties against Pakistan and India.

Athapaththu's contributions extend beyond her batting. She also took three wickets, including in the final against India, showcasing her all-round skills. Her performance sends a positive message to aspiring cricketers, emphasizing the importance of commitment and dedication.