The ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers are all set to begin in Colombo tomorrow with 10 teams vying for the final 4 spots to participate in the Women’s World Cup to be held in England.
These 4 teams will join the top 4 teams from the ICC Women’s Championship Australia, England, New Zealand and West Indies in the Women’s World Cup to be held from the 24th of June to the 23rd of July.
Photos: ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Press Briefing
Photos of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Press Briefing
The tournament will run from the 7th -21st February with the games to be held at NCC, P Sara Stadium, MCA, CCC and Moors SC cricket grounds. The bottom 4 teams from the ICC Women’s Championship along with Bangladesh and Ireland gained automatic qualification to this Qualifier while the other 4 spots in the tournament are taken by teams that won their respective regional qualifiers Zimbabwe (Africa), Thailand (Asia), Scotland (Europe) and Papua New Guinea (East Asia Pacific).
The 10 teams will compete in two groups of 5, with the teams playing 4 games apiece in the 1st round. The top three teams from each group will then move to the Super 6 stage. The 6 teams will carry forward the points gained against the sides which progressed to the Super 6 stage from their group.
The 6 teams will play the three teams from the other group in the Super 6 stage and the top 4 teams at the end of this stage will qualify for the big event in June/July; the top two teams will have the added incentive of battling out for the title on the final of the qualifier on the 21st of February.
There is plenty to play for for all 6 teams that make it past the group stage as not only will the top 4 qualify for the Women’s World Cup in June/July and the ICC Women’s Championship but the remaining two teams will also gain ODI status for the next 4 years.
India and Pakistan go into the tournament as favourites having made the final last time around, however teams like South Africa, Ireland and Bangladesh have improved in leaps and bounds over the past few years and are sure to give the top two teams a good run for their money. Hosts Sri Lanka too are a force to be reckoned with, particularly in home conditions. Speaking at the press briefing held to announce the tournament, Sri Lankan skipper Inoka Ranaweera, expressed her confidence in the team’s preparation, saying, “We have worked hard during the past few weeks and hope to make it to the final 4 in the tournament.”
Sri Lanka should find it relatively easy to make it to the Super 6 stage with India being their biggest challenge in the group arena, however will have to wary of Ireland, particularly since points are carried forward to the next round.
Sri Lanka Squad
Sri Lanka: Inoka Ranaweera (captain), Chamari Athapaththu, Inoshi Fernando, Nipuni Hansika, Eshani Lokusooriya, Sugandika Kumari, Harshitha Madhavi, Dilani Manodara, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodani, Chamari Polgampola, Malsha Shehani, Prasadani Weerakkodi and Sripali Weerakkody (wicketkeeper). Coach: Hemantha Devapriya.
Matches from the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 will be live streamed across ICC’s digital platforms for the first time as the ICC continues its commitment to raising the profile of the women’s game.
The first match to be broadcast live online will be the opening game between hosts Sri Lanka and India when the tournament gets underway on Tuesday; 9 matches in all will be live streamed.
Groups
Group A – India, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand
Group B – South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea
Tournament fixtures (first round)
Tuesday, 7 February
Sri Lanka v India, P.Sara Stadium;
Ireland v Zimbabwe, MCA;
South Africa v Pakistan, NCC;
Bangladesh v PNG, CCC
Wednesday, 8 February
Pakistan v Bangladesh, P.Sara Stadium;
Scotland v South Africa, MCA;
Sri Lanka v Ireland, NCC;
India v Thailand, CCC
Friday, 10 February
India v Ireland, P.Sara Stadium;
Thailand v Zimbabwe, MCA;
PNG v Pakistan, NCC;
Bangladesh v Scotland, CCC.
Saturday, 11 February
South Africa v Bangladesh, P.Sara Stadium;
Scotland v PNG, MCA;
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, NCC;
Ireland v Thailand, CCC
Monday, 13 February
Zimbabwe v India, P.Sara Stadium;
Sri Lanka v Thailand, MCA;
South Africa v PNG, NCC;
Pakistan v Scotland, CCC
Super Six stage (teams to be confirmed after 13 February matches)
Wednesday, 15 February – Match 21, P.Sara Stadium; Match 22, NCC; Match 23, CCC
Friday, 17 February – Match 24, P.Sara Stadium; Match 25, NCC; Match 26, CCC
Sunday, 19 February – Match 27, P.Sara Stadium; Match 28, NCC; Match 29, CCCTuesday, 21 February – FINAL
