Colombo to host ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017

With 100 days to go until the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 gets underway, Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo was today unveiled as the host of the 10-team event which will be staged from 7 to 21 February 2017.

The tournament will see the bottom four sides from the ICC Women’s Championship* along with Bangladesh, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Scotland and Zimbabwe go head to head for the four remaining spots in the ICC Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom from 26 June to 23 July 2017.

From the ICC Women’s Championship, host Sri Lanka is certain to feature in the qualifier, while the remaining three sides will be confirmed following the final round of matches to be played in November.

World champion Australia has already won the ICC Women’s Championship and with it became the first side to book a ticket for next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup, while England, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Pakistan are fighting for the remaining three automatic spots in the pinnacle women’s 50-over event.

The 10 sides in Colombo will be divided into two groups of five with the top three from each progressing to the Super Six stage, thus securing One-Day International (ODI) status until the next ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier.

The top four sides from the Super Six stage will qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 as well as for the next ICC Women’s Championship, while the top two sides will contest the final on 21 February.

As many as 30 50-over matches will be played in the two-week tournament, which will provide another opportunity for the women’s sides below the leading nations to gain vital experience and exposure as well as to hone their skills so that they are fully prepared and geared up for the ultimate event in women’s cricket.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said the Colombo event will help the competing sides narrow the gap with the top women’s sides, “Thanks to the ICC Women’s Championship, women’s cricket has never been so strong and I am confident that next year’s qualifying event will give further impetus to the women’s game. With six teams currently battling for the three remaining automatic World Cup qualification spots through the Women’s Championship, there are going to be some big names going into the qualifying event. This will create a highly competitive environment in Colombo and will also provide the emerging sides with an opportunity to continue to narrow the gap with the frontrunners and with a place at the World Cup at stake anything can happen which will make for an exciting tournament.”

Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva said his Board was keenly looking forward to staging another ICC event, “Sri Lanka Cricket is delighted to be named as the host of another important ICC event. SLC has staged successful ICC events in the past and it will endeavour to live up to its reputation by putting up another memorable show. SLC has been focusing more on youth and women’s cricket, and this ICC event will help it to further promote and develop the game in Sri Lanka. We look forward to welcoming the visiting sides and hope the local support will further inspire our girls and help them to qualify for their sixth consecutive ICC Women’s World Cup.”

Sri Lanka had finished fifth in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013, which was staged in India and won by Australia after defeating West Indies by 114 runs. England had ended third, and was followed by New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and Pakistan.

ICC Women’s Championship points table (as on 30 October)

‘q’ denotes qualified

Schedule of seventh and final round

• West Indies in India 10-16 Nov
• England in Sri Lanka 12-17 Nov
• Pakistan in New Zealand 13-19 Nov
• South Africa in Australia 18-23 Nov

About ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier

This will be the fourth ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier after previous events were staged in the Netherlands (2003), South Africa (2008) and Dhaka (2011).

While the four bottom sides from the ICC Women’s Championship will feature in the 2017 event, Bangladesh and Ireland have earned direction qualification by virtue of being on the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Team Rankings. Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and Zimbabwe have progressed from the regional qualifying tournaments.

Sri Lanka had staged the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2012 along with the men’s event from 26 September to 7 October. The group matches were staged in Galle, while the play-offs, semi-finals and the final were held in Colombo.

The Women’s World Cup 2017 will get underway on 26 June and culminate with the final at Lord’s on 23 July. Eight sides will go head to head in a total of 31 matches including the two semi-finals and the final.  The games will be hosted in Bristol, Derby, Leicester and Taunton with the final at Lord’s expected to be the best-attended event to date.