Women’s World T20 Qualifiers kick-starts in Netherlands from 07th – 14th Jul, 2018. The tournament carries even more significance as all the matches will carry T20I status after ICC’s announcement to award all member countries T20I status with Women’s category to have it implemented from 01st Jul 2018 onwards.
Women’s team’s from Bangladesh, Netherlands, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, Uganda and United Arab Emirates will be competing in the 8-nation tournament, from which the top 2 teams will qualify to play in the ICC Women’s World T20 in the West Indies from 09th to 24th Nov, 2018. Kampong Cricket Club in Utrecht and the VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen will be hosting the matches in the tournament with Kampong Cricket Club to host the tournament final on 14th Jul 2018.
Czarsportz preview for all the teams:
Bangladesh – Coming into the tournament, no one would have imagined that Bangladesh Women would do the unthinkable and beat all fancied teams in the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Asia Cup held in Malaysia to eventually become the Asian Champions. Now that they have done that, all the teams in the World T20 qualifiers will be watchful against them. Of course, the conditions will be lot different in Netherlands than what was on offer in Malaysia, but Bangladesh will rely on their bowling attack to set up the games for them.
Squad: Salma Khatun (Captain), Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Khadiza-Tul Kubra, Lily Rani Biswas, Nahida Akter, Nigar Sultana Joty, Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh, Shamima Sultana, Sanjida Islam and Sarmin Sultana
Key Players: Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh, Salma Khatun, Nahida Akter & Fargana Hoque
Warm-up Match#1: Scotland 47 all out in 18.5 overs (Rachel Scholes 16, Fahima Khatun 3/1, Rumana Ahmed 2/8, Lily Rani Biswas 2/10, Khadija-Tul Kubra 1/2) lost to Bangladesh 51/1 in 10 overs (Ayasha Rahman 23 n.o, Sarmin Sultana 18 n.o, Kathryn Bryce 1/7) by 9 wickets
Ireland – Although they got taken out completely out of their game against New Zealand Women, the experience would do them a lot of good in the long run. A series against the visiting Bangladesh Women right before the qualifiers will be the perfect opportunity for Ireland players to get back into the groove and get both batting and bowling departments firing at the same time to make big headwinds into the qualifiers.
Squad: Laura Delany (Captain), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Cara Murray, Lucy O’Reilly, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell and Mary Waldron
Key Players: Gaby Lewis, Mary Waldron, Kim Garth, Laura Delany & Lara Maritz
Warm-up Match#2: Papua New Guinea 106/4 in 20 overs (Pauke Siaka 28, Kopi John 24, Tanya Ruma 14 n.o, Lucy O’Reilly 2/20, Eimear Richardson 1/17) lost to Ireland 107/2 in 11.4 overs (Gaby Lewis 56 n.o, Clare Shillington 37, Sibona Jimmy 1/12) by 8 wickets
Netherlands – The host’s have their task cut-out against the ever improving Women’s squads from across the globe in the tournament. Their campaign in the ECB Women’s County Championships Division 3 was satisfactory enough to note that some of the players in the squad are in good nick and will look to continue their form in the qualifiers. Home conditions and crowd support could also play a major factor in their charge towards the top 2 spots in the tournament.
Squad: Heather Siegers (Captain), Cher van Slobbe, Esther Corder, Caroline de Fouw, Babette de Leede (wicketkeeper), Denise Hannema, Sterre Kalis, Lisa Klokgieters, Mariska Kornet, Juliet Post, Annemijn Thomson, Robine Rijke, Silver Siegers and Jolien van Vliet
Key Players: Heather Siegers, Annemijn Thomson, Sterre Kalis, Lisa Klokgieters & Robine Rijke
Warm-up Match#3: Thailand 138/7 in 20 overs (Naruemol Chaiwai 39, Natthakan Chantham 26, Nattaya Boochatham 18, Caroline de Fouw 3/24, Heather Siegers 2/14) beat Netherlands 92/7 in 20 overs (Heather Siegers 26, Sterre Kalis 25, Nattaya Boochatham 2/15, Suleeporn Laomi 2/15, Chanida Sutthiruang 1/7, Onnicha Khamchomphu 1/8) by 46 runs
Papua New Guinea – Although the City Pharmacy PNG Lewas squad haven’t had any International matches to play prior to the qualifiers, the team has been involved in extensive training and practice sessions for the past few months and will be looking forward to putting up big performances in the qualifiers to upstage more fancied teams than themselves.
Squad: Pauke Siaka (Captain), Natasha Ambol, Vicky Ara’a, Kaia Arua, Helen Buruka, Veru Kila Frank, Sibona Jimmy, Kopi John, Ravini Oa, Tanya Ruma, Brenda Tau, Mairi Tom, Isabel Toua and Naoani Vare
Key Players: Pauke Siaka, Ravini Oa, Brenda Tau, Isabel Toua & Veru Kila Frank
Scotland – Scotland Women have had the best of preparations leading up-to the qualifiers, playing in the ECB Women’s County Championships Division 3 and Division 2 and impressed one and all with the team performances in the tournament. Conditions wouldn’t be much different in Netherlands for them and they will look to dominate their group leading into the semifinals of the tournament.
Squad: Kathryn Bryce (Captain), Abbi Aitken, Sarah Bryce, Priyanaz Chatterji, Becky Glen, Laura Grant, Lorna Jack, Abtaha Maqsood, Katie McGill, Jess Mills, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Scholes, Ellen Watson and Ruth Willis
Key Players: Sarah Bryce, Rachel Scholes, Katie McGill, Kathryn Bryce & Abbi Aitken
Thailand – A good start to the year which saw Thailand Women win the ASEAN Women T20 Cup in Thailand, followed by impressive performances against India Women and Pakistan Women and finishing up with a grand victory over Sri Lanka Women. They have been developing very well in the past couple of years and the results are now showing up in multi-team events. Thailand will be quietly confident about themselves going into the qualifiers and will look to upstage the other much fancied teams in the tournament to continue their good year so far.
Squad: Sornnarin Tippoch (Captain), Nattaya Boochatham, Naruemol Chaiwai, Natthakan Chantham, Onnicha Khamchomphu, Rosenanee Kanoh, Nannapat Koncharonkai, Suleeporn Laomi, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Rattanaporn Padunglerd, Srinitra Saengsakaorat, Sainamin Saenya, Chanida Sutthiruang and Arriya Yenyueak
Key Players: Sornnarin Tippoch, Nattaya Boochatham, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Chanida Sutthiruang & Suleeporn Laomi
Warm-up Match #4: Thailand 123/8 in 20 overs (Naruemol Chaiwai 36, Sornnarin Tippoch 30 n.o, Heather Siegers 2/17, Robine Rijke 2/24, Caroline de Fouw 1/13, Annemijn Thomson 1/14) beat Netherlands 66 all out in 20 overs (Lisa Kolkgieters 15, Cher van Slobbe 12, Nattaya Boochatham 3/5, Onnicha Khamchomphu 2/14, Sornnarin Tippoch 1/10, Chanida Sutthiruang 1/3) by 57 runs
Uganda – Having dominated the African region in the past couple of seasons, Uganda Women come into the tournament after winning the 4-nation Africa Women’s T20 Cup in Zimbabwe recently. What has clicked for them so far is that the batters and bowlers have supported each other on most of the days when one of the departments have failed to deliver in the middle. Coming into the qualifiers, Uganda Women will look to continue on their fine form as well and put pressure on the other teams to make their way towards the semis of the tournament.
Squad: Kevin Awino (Captain), Joyce Mary Apio, Consylate Aweko, Getrude Candiru, Siadat Kemigisha, Janet Mbabazi, Rita Musamali, Frankline Najjumba, Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Mary Nalule, Prico Nakitende, Stephanie Nampiina, Carol Namugenyi and Rachael Ntono
Key Players: Kevin Awino, Getrude Candiru, Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Janet Mbabazi & Carol Namugenyi
Warm-up Match #5: UAE 128/5 in 20 overs (Chamani Senevirathne 55, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi 32 n.o, Esha Oza 27, Joyce Mary Apio 2/16, Rita Musamali 1/16) beat Uganda 99/7 in 20 overs (Immaculate Nakisuuyi 33, Rachael Ntono 16, Kavisha Kumari 2/16, Subha Srinivasan 1/5, Humaira Tasneem 1/19) by 29 runs
United Arab Emirates – UAE Women qualified behind Thailand from the Asian region qualifiers to get into the global qualifiers and although they haven’t played much International games afterwards, the players have been busy with the domestic competitions and with the inclusion of experienced players who have played earlier in Sri Lanka, the main priority would be to put up combined team performances to beat the other teams and get into the semis.
Squad: Humaira Tasneem (Captain), Chamani Senevirathne, Chaya Mughal, Esha Oza, Heena Hotchandani, Ishni Senavirathna, Judit Cleetus, Kavisha Kumari, Namita Dsouza, Neha Sharma, Nisha Ali, Roopa Nagaraj, Subha Srinivasan and Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Key Players: Humaira Tasneem, Chamani Senevirathne, Nisha Ali, Ishni Senavirathna & Chaya Mugdal
Warm-up Match #6: Papua New Guinea 112 all out in 20 overs beat UAE 82/8 in 20 overs (Sibona Jimmy 3/5, Pauke Siaka 2/11) by 30 runs
As is the norm in ICC Global tournaments, all teams will play a warm-up game each before the start of the main tournament from 07th Jul 2018. While Ireland Women, Scotland Women, Uganda Women & Thailand Women are placed in Group A, Netherlands Women, Bangladesh Women, Papua New Guinea Women and United Arab Emirates Women are placed in Group B. The Top 2 team’s from the Qualifiers will then join Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies in the ICC Women’s World T20 in the Caribbean Islands in Nov 2018.
ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifiers Warm-up Schedule:
| Date | Teams | Venue | Time (Local) |
| 5th July 2018 | Scotland Women v/s Bangladesh Women | VOC Rotterdam, Rotterdam | 12:00 PM |
| 5th July 2018 | UAE Women v/s Uganda Women | Voorburg Cricket Ground, Voorburg | 12:00 PM |
| 5th July 2018 | Ireland Women v/s PNG Women | VOC Rotterdam, Rotterdam | 16:00 PM |
| 5th July 2018 | Netherlands Women v/s Thailand Women | Voorburg Cricket Ground, Voorburg | 16:00 PM |
ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifiers Schedule (Top 2 Teams from each group to advance to Semi-final’s):
| Date | Teams | Venue | Time (Local) |
| 7th July 2018 | Ireland Women v/s Thailand Women | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 12:00 PM |
| 7th July 2018 | Scotland Women v/s Uganda Women | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 12:00 PM |
| 7th July 2018 | Netherlands Women v/s UAE Women | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 16:00 PM |
| 7th July 2018 | Bangladesh Women v/s PNG Women | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 16:00 PM |
| 8th July 2018 | Uganda Women v/s Thailand Women | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 12:00 PM |
| 8th July 2018 | Scotland Women v/s Ireland Women | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 12:00 PM |
| 8th July 2018 | Netherlands Women v/s Bangladesh Women | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 16:00 PM |
| 8th July 2018 | UAE Women v/s PNG Women | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 16:00 PM |
| 10th July 2018 | Scotland Women v/s Thailand Women | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 12:00 PM |
| 10th July 2018 | Ireland Women v/s Uganda Women | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 12:00 PM |
| 10th July 2018 | UAE Women v/s Bangladesh Women | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 16:00 PM |
| 10th July 2018 | Netherlands Women v/s PNG Women | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 16:00 PM |
| 12th July 2018 | Semi-Final 1 | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 12:00 PM |
| 12th July 2018 | Play-off Semi-Final 1 | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 12:00 PM |
| 12th July 2018 | Semi-Final 2 | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 16:00 PM |
| 12th July 2018 | Play-off Semi-Final 2 | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 16:00 PM |
| 14th July 2018 | 7th/8th Play-off | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 12:00 PM |
| 14th July 2018 | 3rd/4th Play-off | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 12:00 PM |
| 14th July 2018 | 5th/6th Play-off | VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen | 16:00 PM |
| 14th July 2018 | Final | Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht | 16:00 PM |
