ICC confirms squads for Women's World Cup Qualifier

ICC confirms squads for Women's World Cup Qualifier

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (January 24) confirmed the squads for the 10-team ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier to be held in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo from February 7-21.

India Women opener Smriti Mandhana sustained an ACL rupture on her left knee towards the end of her debut Women's Big Bash League season and will be undergoing surgery in Australia. In a last-minute change, Mandhana has been replaced by middle order bat Mona Meshram, who incidentally was the only absentee from the 15-member squad of India's last ODI assignment, against West Indies in Mulapadu.

In December last year, Sri Lanka's former captain Shashikala Siriwardena was ruled out of the event with the same injury - an ACL tear that she sustained ahead of Sri Lanka's home series against Australia. Siriwardena, who missed most of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 too due to a hamstring injury, underwent surgery in Mumbai in late November that is likely to keep the legendary all-rounder out of action for four-six months. The hosts, who have gone for split captaincy since Siriwardena's World T20 ouster, will be led by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera.

South Africa have made three changes to their squad that played the five-match ODI series in Bangladesh. Medium pacer Odine Kirsten, batter Andrie Steyn and wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta have been dropped while the experienced pacer Shabnim Ismail and 17-year-old Laura Wolvaardt have been drafted in. Nuzhat Tasnia is the only absentee from the Bangladesh's 15-member squad that conceded the series 1-4.

India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are the four teams which finished in the bottom half of the 2014-16 ICC Women's ODI Championship to end up in the qualifying round vying for the four remaining slots in the eight-team megaevent that will be held in England and Wales in June-July.

Each side will play four matches in the first round, following which the top three sides from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, while also carrying forward the points they earn against other sides which progress to the Super Six stage from their group.

The top four sides from the Super Six stage, in which each side will play three matches against teams from the other group, will complete the eight-team line-up. at the World Cup. The two teams with maximum points will fight it out in the title clash on February 21, while the fifth and sixth placed sides will secure ODI status for the next four years.

India have been clubbed along with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand in Group A, while the Group B comprises South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea.

Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies have qualified directly for the showpiece event after finishing as the top four teams respectively.

SQUADS:

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 Ara, 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 Nain 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.