Ten teams fight for four places for 2017 WC

Women’s cricket teams from ten nations will be seen in action in Colombo from today to February 21 where the top four teams among them will qualify to play in the 2017 Women’s World Cup which is to be held in England in June 2017.

Host Sri Lanka, India, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand will battle in the Group ‘A’ while South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea are slotted in the Group ‘B’ at the Women’s World Cup qualifier first round. Only the top four teams of the points table after the Super Six stage will earn a place in June’s big event and also the opportunity to play in the next ICC Women’s Championship. First round will play in round-robin format where the best three teams of each group will advance to the Super Six round.

The decisive Super Six rounds will have two groups of three teams each with a card of nine matches. Each team of a group will battle with all three teams of the other group to determine point table leaders. Two top Super Six round teams will play the final of the qualifiers on February 21 at P. Sara Oval. Two dropouts from the Super Six stage will able to continue or gain ODI status for another four years.

Lankan women’s captain Inoka Jayaweera was very optimistic that her team is eager to capitalize on home advantage. “We have been practicing hard from about three months and the girls are ready to take up the challenge,” Inoka stated during a press briefing at the Galadari Hotel yesterday.

Match itinerary –

Feb. 7 – Sri Lanka v India (P.Sara Oval), Ireland v Zimbabwe (MCA grounds), South Africa v Pakistan (NCC), Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea (CCC)

Feb. 8 – Pakistan v Bangladesh (P. Sara Oval), Scotland v South Africa (MCA), Sri Lanka v Ireland (NCC), India v Thailand (CCC)

Feb. 10 – India v Ireland (P. Sara Oval), Thailand v Zimbabwe (MCA grounds), Papua New Guinea v Pakistan (NCC), Bangladesh v Scotland (CCC)

Feb. 11 – South Africa v Bangladesh (P. Sara Oval), Scotland v Papua New Guinea (MCA grounds)

Feb. 13 – Zimbabwe v India (P. Sara Oval), Sri Lanka v Thailand (MCA grounds), South Africa v Papua New Guinea (NCC), Pakistan v Scotland (CCC)

Feb. 16 – 19 – Super Six round

Feb. 21 – final at P. Sara Oval

Teams –

BANGLADESH – Rumana Ahmed (captain), Fargana Hoque, Fahima Khatun, Sanjida Islam, Jahanara Alam, Khadiza-Tul Kubra, Lata Mondol, Nigar Sultana (wicketkeeper), Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Salma Khatun, Sarmin Sultana, Sharmin Akter and Suraya Azmin. Coach: David Capel

IRELAND – Laura Delany (captain), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Amy Kenealy, Meg Kendal, Gaby Lewis, Robyn Lewis, Louise McCarthy, Ciara Metcalfe, Lucy O’Reilly, Mary Waldron (wicketkeeper) and Clare Shillington. Coach: Aaron Hamilton

INDIA – Mithali Raj (captain), Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Shikha Pandey, Sukanya Parida, Deepti Sharma, M D Thirushkamini, Devika Vaidya, Sushma Verma and Poonam Yadav. Coach: Purnima Rau

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Pauke Siaka (captain), Vicky Araá, Kaia Arua, Helen Buruk (wicket keeper), Veru Frank, Sibona Jimmy, Kopi John, Ravini Oa, Konio Oala, Norma Ovasaru, Hinamutawa Philip, Tanya Ruma, Brenda Tau and Mairi Tom. Coaches: Rodney Maha and Cathryn Fitzpatrick

PAKISTAN – Sana Mir (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Bibi Nahida, Bismah Maroof, Ghulam Fatima, Javeria Wadood, Maham Tariq, Nashra Sundhu, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket keeper) and Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi. Coach: Mohammad Kabir

SCOTLAND – Abbi Aitken (captain), Kari Anderson, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce (wicket keeper), Naz Chatterji, Kirstie Gordon, Samantha Haggo, Lorna Jack (wicket keeper), Abtaha Maqsood, Katie McGill, Liz Priddle, Ollie Rae, Rachel Scholes and Fi Urquhart. Coach: Steve Knox

SOUTH AFRICA – Dane Van Niekerk (captain), Trisha Chetty (wicketkeeper), Moseline Daniels, Mignon Du Preez, Yolani Fourie, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Lizelle Lee, Matshipi Letsoalo, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon and Laura Wolvaardt. Coach: Hilton Moreeng

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.

THAILAND – Sornnarin Tippoch (captain), Shagufta Arwae, Nattaya Boochatham, Naruemol Chaiwai (wicketkeeper), Natthakan Chantham, Rosenanee Kanoh, Nannapat Khoncharoenkai (wicket keeper), Suleeporn Laomi, Sotaya Lateh, Ratanaporn Padunglerd, Sirintra Saengsakaorat, Sainammin Saenya, Rattana Sangsoma, Chanida Sutthiruang. Coach: Janak Champika Gamage

ZIMBABWE – Sharne Mayers (captain), Precious Marange, Esther Mbofana, Pellagia Mujaji, Modester Mupachikwa (wicketkeeper), Marry-Anne Musonda, Nomatter Mutasa, Ashley Ndiraya, Josephine Nkomo, Nonhlanhla Nyathi (wicketkeeper), Loreen Tshuma, Tasmeen Granger, Nomvelo Sibanda and Anesu Mushangwe. Coach: Trevor Phiri.