Everything you need to know about ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers is set to kick off from April 25 and all the teams are geared up to get their tickets to the T20 World Cup 2024. This tournament will decide which two countries will take the final spots in the T20 World Cup set to be played in Bangladesh. Ten teams will be fighting for the two spots which will be decided once the finalists are decided and the winner of the tournament will be crowned on May 7.

Women’s CricZone takes a look at the tournament format and how the teams are placed for a spot in the coveted T20 event.

How were the teams finalised?

Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka and Laura Delany’s Ireland were a part of the T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa, but couldn’t grab a direct entry to the next iteration of the tournament. While Sri Lanka finished ahead of Bangladesh in their group, with it being the home world cup for the latter, they were automatically qualified. Ireland, on the other hand, finished last in their group to lose out on direct qualification.

The other eight teams were finalised based on how they fared in the ICC regional qualifiers. In the Asia Qualifiers, Thailand and UAE clinched their spots, while Uganda and Zimbabwe breezed through in the Africa Qualifiers. The Europe Qualifiers saw Netherlands and Scotland prevail, and in the west, USA and Vanuatu took the one spot available in the America and the East Asia-Pacific region respectively.

Format of the Tournament

There will be two groups, each consisting of five teams. Teams will play against every other side in their respective groups once and the top two sides of each group will move on to the semi-finals. The team that placed first in one group will play the semi-final against the team that placed second in the other. Winners of the semi-final will face each other in the final on May 7.

All the matches will be taking place in Abu Dhabi at the Tolerance Oval and the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. The venues will hold one day match and one night match, completing four matches in a day. The semi-finals will be played on May 5 and the finals will be played on May 7, both being played in the Sheikh Zayed Cricket stadium.

How are the teams grouped?

Group A: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Scotland, Uganda and USA

Group B: Zimbabwe, Ireland, Vanuatu, Netherlands and UAE

Group A

Sri Lanka enter the tournament as the favourites to win it after having performed brilliantly against the current T20 World Cup runners-up South Africa. In the recently concluded T20I series in South Africa, they beat the hosts 2-1. Thailand were part of the T20 world cup in 2020 and they would be hoping for a ticket to Bangladesh this year. They have a strong bowling line-up boasting of some prolific spinners.

Scotland marched through the Europe qualifiers and drew the series against Ireland in October 2023 before getting the better of them in the warm-up fixture. USA, on the other hand, have a young squad but is led by an experienced Sindhu Sriharsha. Uganda are coming into the tournament after having lost just one match in the regional qualifier.

Group B

Ireland, second ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) team in the tournament alongside Sri Lanka, seem to be the favourites from this group. They showed that they are a much  improved T20I side in recent times. They whitewashed Zimbabwe five-nil away and are coming into the  tournament after defeating Thailand. Netherlands are slowly building up their strength to be a team worthy of qualifying. They even beat Scotland in one of their two meetings in the regional qualifiers.

UAE went on to win the ACC Women’s Premier Cup and the Asia Cup qualifier tournament comfortably. Zimbabwe marched through the Africa Qualifiers undefeated, making them a formidable opponent to everyone in the group. The entry of Vanuatu has taken all by surprise and they have a star in the 6-year-old spinner Vanessa Vira. She raced to the top of the charts being the highest wicket taker in the East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers.

How are the squads shaping up?

All the teams are in Abu Dhabi already and although the rain robbed some of them of important practice ahead of the tournament, they all will be positive about their chances in the competition.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshi de Silva, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Achini Kulasuriya, Hansima Karunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Inoshi Fernando, Sugandika Kumari, Sashini Gimhani

Player to look out for:

Chamari Athapaththu - When it comes to Sri Lanka, it’s hard to look beyond Chamari Athapaththu. She has constantly done it for Sri Lanka time and time again in recent times despite the emergence of young players like Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Kaveesha Dilhari. After a subdued WPL, her performance against the Proteas would also be a confidence booster for her and the island nation.

Thailand: Naruemol Chaiwai (c), Thipatcha Putthawong (vc), Nannapat Khoncharoenkai, Suwanan Khiaoto, Chanida Sutthiruang, Nattaya Boochatham, Natthakan Chantham, Rosenanee Kanoh, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Suleeporn Laomi, Phannita Maya, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Nannaphat Chaihan, Chayanisa Phengpaen

Player to look out for:

Nattaya Boochatham - Having 116 T20I wickets under her belt, spinner Nattaya Boochatham will be vital for the Thai side. The experienced spinner has been leading the spin department alongside young Thipatcha Putthawong.

Scotland: Kathryn Bryce (c), Chloe Abel, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Saskia Horley, Lorna Jack, Ailsa Lister, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Hannah Rainey, Nayma Sheikh, Rachel Slater, Ellen Watson

Player to look out for:

Kathryn Bryce - The Bryce Sisters are always the key contributors for Scotland even with the emergence of young guns like Darcey Carter and Ailsa Lister. Kathryn Bryce has led from the front and has been instrumental in their victories. She has 1020 T20I runs under her belt in 38 innings and she will be looking to use the experience gained from WPL especially with regards to her batting.

Uganda: Janet Mbabazi (c), Rita Musamali (vc), Consy Aweko, Evelyn Anyipo, Kevin Awino, Stephanie Nampiina, Immaculate Nakisuyi, Sarah Akiteng, Sarah Walaza, Phionah Khulume, Lorna Anyait, Malisa Ariokot, Proscovia Alako, Gloria Obukor, Esther Iloku

Player to look out for:

Immaculate Nakisuyi - While the entire team has been performing well in the Africa region, allrounder Immaculate Nakisuyi has been the one to watch out for. She has been valuable with both the bat and ball and will be once again looking to be a key contributor when they face tougher oppositions

USA: Sindhu Sriharsha (c), Anika Kolan (vc), Aditiba Chudasama, Disha Dhingra, Gargi Bhogle, Geetika Kodali, Isani Vaghela, Jessica Willathgamuwa, Jivana Aras, Pooja Ganesh, Pooja Shah, Ritu Singh, Saanvi Immadi, Sai Tanmayi Eyyunni, Suhani Thadani Reserves: Maahi Madhavan (travelling), Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, Chetnaa Prasad

Player to look out for:

Disha Dhingra - The 17-year-old opener has been the most consistent performer for the USA. She had played crucial knocks in the regional qualifiers that helped her side get to respectable totals.

Zimbabwe: Mary-Anne Musonda (captain), Josephine Nkomo, Kelis Ndhlovu, Sharne Mayers, Modester Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Chiyedza Dhururu, Loreen Tshuma, Audrey Mazvishaya, Nomvelo Sibanda, Precious Marange, Pellagia Mujaji, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Francisca Chipare, Ashley Ndiraya

Player to look out for:

Precious Marange - Being one of the most experienced players on the side, Precious Marange will be the X factor of the team. She has the ability to slow the opponents scoreboard down, and also pick up wickets at crucial moments.

Ireland: Laura Delany (c), Ava Canning, Alana Dalzell, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Joanna Loughran, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Rebecca Stokell

Player to look out for:

Arlene Kelly - Ireland’s top three comprising Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast will continue to be the game changers for them. However, Arlene Kelly will be leading their bowling attack. In the only match played against Thailand in the bi-lateral series, she picked up four wickets which helped them restrict Thailand to just 79 in 19 overs. She enters the tournament with 44 wickets in 33 innings to her name at a stellar economic rate of 5.89 in T20Is.



Vanuatu: Selina Solman (c), Rachel Andrew, Maiyllisse Carlot, Alvina Chilia, Gillian Chilia, Leimauri Chilia, Lissing Enock, Natalia Kakor, Valenta Langiatu, Vicky Mansale, Nasimana Navaika, Raylin Ova, Susan Stephen, Mahina Tarimiala, Vanessa Vira

Player to look out for:

Rachel Andrew - She made a statement by contributing with the bat and the ball in the regional qualifiers. She holds impressive stats of 781 runs in 35 innings and has an economy rate of 4.19.

Netherlands:  Heather Siegers (c), Babette de Leede, Carlijn van Koolwijk, Caroline de Lange, Eva Lynch, Frédérique Overdijk, Hannah Landheer, Iris Zwilling, Jolien van Vliet, Merel Dekeling, Phebe Molkenboer, Robine Rijke, Sanya Khurana, Silver Siegers, Sterre Kalis. Reserves: Myrthe van den Raad (travelling), Annemijn Thomson, Isabel van der Woning, Mikkie Zwilling

Player to look out for:

Iris Zwilling - The 22-year-old pacer made her name in the regional qualifiers by winning the Player of the Tournament award, by picking up crucial wickets and showcasing economical bowling as well. She has a staggering economy rate of 5.18 in T20Is.

UAE: Esha Oza (c), Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Siya Gokhale, Heena Hotchandhani, Al Maseera Jahangir, Lavanya Keny, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Indhuja Nandakumar, Avanee Patil, Rinitha Rajith, Theertha Satish, Khushi Sharma, Mehak Thakur

Player to look out for:

Esha Oza - Having taken over captaincy from Chaya Mughal, Esha Oza will be looking to lead the side from the front. Her ability to score runs when the team desperately needs it is going to be of great help to the side this tournament. Oza will be one of the players to watch out for in the competition.