Saviour on the field, in the pool

‘Saviour’ Seneviratna! Chamani Seneviratna may be well known for her ‘rescue’ acts on the field but only a few are aware of her stint as a lifeguard. The oldest member of the Sri Lankan squad, and the second-oldest in the ongoing Women’s World Cup (India’s Sulakshana Naik was born four days earlier), Chamani is a certified international lifeguard with more than three years experience in Dubai. And it was during this period that she saved two lives in a swimming pool.

Primarily a fast bowler, Chamani switched to off-spin in 2008 after a career-threatening leg injury. “The doctors advised me against bowling fast as my ligament was damaged. I wanted to continue being an all-rounder, so I decided to take up spin. For a year, my coaches groomed me,” Chamani told DNA on the eve of Sri Lanka’s final league match against India.

Even Ajantha Mendis helped her. “The switch was difficult but I learnt a lot by observing other bowlers, especially Mendis. And like him, I have many variations. Earlier, I used to watch his bowling clips but later got to interact with him at gym sessions. I also got to see him bowl during training and learnt quite a bit from those sessions, especially bowling accurately,” she added. “I am enjoying my stint as a spinner as I can relax now unlike my days as a fast bowler.”

And it was against the under-19 boys that she first attempted spin. “I practise with boys all the time. This exposure not only enhanced my spin talent but also helped me to understand a batsman’s mindset.”

Playing in her fourth World Cup, Chamani has seen it all and is glad how women’s cricket has evolved over the years. “In 1997, when I made my debut, we didn’t have any facilities. We didn’t even have money to buy ice to treat injuries. There was no physical training, all we did was run 10 rounds of the stadium. Now, it’s a different scene altogether. Two years ago, the armed forces offered jobs to the women cricketers and we get decent salaries. Former cricketer Guy de Alwis, who passed away last month, had a major role to play in this reform,” she added.

The most-capped player of her side, Chamani is also a coach. “I have been coaching girls at the Colts Cricket Club for the last two years. I am a Level 1 certified coach. After retirement, I will finish the remaining two levels. My aim is to coach Sri Lanka or any other national team in the future,” said the 34-year-old.

And is marriage on the cards? “Many boys don’t like women playing the sport. The day I find a nice boy who supports my career, I will get married. Till then, it’s just cricket,” she signed off.