The 9th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to kick start on October 3rd and will be played till October 20th. Originally the tournament was supposed to be played in Bangladesh, however, it shifted to UAE due to the political unrest happening in Bangladesh, however, the Asian country will remain as the host.
A total of 23 matches will be played, including the knockouts. Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium are the two venues that host the marquee event.
How many teams are in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?
India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and debutants Scotland are the 10 teams participating in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The first 7 teams qualified based on their rankings, Bangladesh secured an automatic qualification as the hosts, while Sri Lanka and Scotland earned their spots by playing in the qualifiers.
India Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Sajeevan Sajana, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav.
Firstly we will discuss the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 India Squad.
Elimination in the first round on three occasions, four times exiting in the semi-finals, and a loss in the finals once has been the story of India in their Eight attempts at the Women’s T20 World Cup.
India is placed in Group A in the 9th edition along with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They start their campaign against New Zealand on October 4th, followed by games against Pakistan (October 6th), Sri Lanka (October 9th) and Australia (October 13th).
This is our best-ever team at a T20 World Cup squad, says skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, her statement makes sense in every possible way as 12 out of 15 members have previous experience of playing in the T20 World Cup. The newcomers Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan Sajana, and Asha Sobana have done well to get to this stage through the ranks of the Women’s Premier League.
The selectors have retained the same squad that played in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka a couple of months back which they lost to hosts Sri Lanka in the finals. The form of the openers is a positive sign with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, scoring 373 runs between them in the Asia Cup. The stability their middle order brings makes them the best in the world, although they will be tested under pressure in UAE. Watch out for Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma who form the core of the middle order.
The rise of all-rounder Deepti Sharma is the talking point, the 27-year-old all-rounder was outstanding for UP Warriorz in the WPL this year, scoring 295 runs and picking up 8 wickets. She even topped the wicket-takers charts in the Asia Cup with 10 scalps.
Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil will form their bowling unit.
Australia Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.
Australia has dominated the competition entirely, winning the title six times. They are going to defend the title this time, following their success in South Africa in 2023 where they beat hosts in the final by 19 runs.
Things have changed for the record holders who now moved on from the Meg Lanning era with Alyssa Healy taking the reigns at the biggest stage in UAE. Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, and Tayla Vlaeminck are the only three changes from the previous T20 World Cup.
World Champions are in staggering form this year, winning 10 of their 12 T20Is, including a couple of clean sweeps against Bangladesh and New Zealand by 3-0 margin each.
The squad is very much organized with Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Phoebe Litchfield, and Ashleigh Gardner going to form their batting, while Megan Schutt, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown, Alana King, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molineux serving their bowling unit. They begin their tournament against Sri Lanka on October 5th at Sharjah.
England Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Heather Knight (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath (wk), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danielle Wyatt.
The inaugural champions are eyeing glory after 15 long years, since becoming champions in 2009. They have reached the knockouts on seven occasions, including the finals four times.
England is placed in Group B in the 9th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which involves Bangladesh, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies. They kickstart their journey against Bangladesh on October 5th followed by games against South Africa, Scotland, and the West Indies.
Heather Knight and her company can easily go past Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while they have to play good cricket to overcome South Africa and West Indies. 11 of their players have been retained and travelled to South Africa in 2023.
They are in amazing form this year in T20Is, winning 13 of their 15 matches played, which gives them the confidence to go with a positive mindset.
Bowlers are on song in the shortest format this year with Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn taking the honours with 17 wickets each, while Charlie Dean and Lauren Bell too played their part, picking up 15 wickets and 14 wickets respectively.
Looking at their batting, Maia Bouchier stands out with 333 runs in 12 innings, while Heather Knight (329 runs) and Danielle Wyatt (226 runs) have done well too.
New Zealand Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
New Zealand are looking to put their best foot forward in the 9th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, having been knocked out in the first round in the last 3 editions, Their best performances came in 2009 and 2010 where they reached the finals but dropped short of winning the title by close margins.
Sophie Devine will lead the side one last time at the marquee event and already made a statement to step down from the captaincy after the event. The squad is well equipped with experienced players the likes of Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, and Leigh Kasperek.
Watch out for Brooke Halliday, Fran Jones, and Eden Carson who have the potential to win matches for the team. White Ferns are placed in Group A alongside Australia, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza (wk), Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan.
Pakistan Women haven’t achieved anything big in the ICC tournaments and termed minnows due to their below-par performances over the last few years. Adding to the context, in the last eight editions, they were eliminated in the first round itself.
Even in the recent Women’s Asia Cup, they failed to make it to the finals after losing to Sri Lanka in the semi-finals closely. Following a setback, Nida Dar gave up her captaincy.
In the build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, they hosted South Africa in the 3-matches T20I series which they lost by a 2-1 margin. The new captain Fatima Sana felt somewhat relieved by a reasonable show from her teammates.
The squad looks compact having the likes of Muneeba Ali, Aliya Riaz, Gull Feroza, Saqia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and former skipper Nida Dar. They are placed in Group A along with India, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Their journey starts on the inaugural day of the tournament against Sri Lanka on October 3rd at Sharjah.
Sri Lanka Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Chamari Athapaththu (c), Kavisha Dilhari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Shashini Gimhani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Ama Kanchana, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Sachini Nisansala, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Nilakshika Silva.
Sri Lanka is on top of the moon currently with the recent joy as they clinched their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title at home beating tournament favourites India in the summit clash by 8 wickets.
It was indeed a big moment for skipper Chamari Athapaththu who led the side by an example throughout and was declared the Player of the Tournament for her stupendous display where she scored 303 runs and picked up 3 wickets. Harshitha Samarawickrama (140 runs) and Kavisha Dilhari (59 runs and 9 wickets) too got praise for their special performances.
They made only one change from the success in the Asia Cup, replacing Kawya Kavindi with Inoka Ranaweera.
They haven’t made it big in the Women’s T20 World Cups as they were knocked out in the first round in all the previous eight editions. Sri Lanka is placed in a strong group in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which involves Pakistan, New Zealand, India, and Australia.
West Indies Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Hayley Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Zaida James.
Apart from Australia and England, West Indies are the only 3rd team to win the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title. They attained the feat in the sub-continent in 2016, beating Australia in the finals. West Indies peaked between 2010 to 2018 when they reached knockouts in all five editions, however, their performances declined in the 2020 and 2023 editions where they dropped out in the first round.
Leading up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, they did well in their last two bilateral series, beating Pakistan and Sri Lanka by 4-1 and 2-1 margins respectively. World-class all-rounder Hayley Matthews will lead the side with Shemaine Campbelle as her deputy. Nerissa Crafton and Mandy Mangru are the new inclusions.
They bank on the experience of Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin in the batting department while Aaliyah Alleyne, Karishma Ramharack, Afy Fletcher, and Hayley Matthews will bolster their bowling. They begin their journey against South Africa on October 3rd in the Group B contest, which also features England, Scotland, and Bangladesh.
South Africa Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder (wk), Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabongo Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon.
South African women made significant strides in the last two editions, reaching the semi-finals and finals. They came close to winning the title when they hosted in 2023, but lost to Australia in the finals by 19 runs. Now will feel they have the best chance to achieve the desired result in the forthcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. They are in Group B which also features England, West Indies, Scotland, and Bangladesh. Proteas Women play their first game against West Indies on October 4th, and they face England in the most anticipated Group B contest on October 7th.
Their preparations for the marquee event went quite well, as they beat Pakistan by 2-1 and drew 1-1 with India, with both series being played away from home.
Talented batter Laura Wolvaardt will lead the side that has familiar names Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, and Chloe Tryon. Ayanda Hlubi, Mieke de Ridder, and Seshnie Naidu are the inexperienced players in the mix.
Scotland Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Kathryn Bryce (c), Sarah Bryce, Chloe Abel, Abbi Aitken Drummond, Olivia Bell, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Saskia Horley, Lorna Jack, Ailsa Lister (wk), Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater.
Scotland Women are making their first-ever appearance in the Women’s T20 World Cup. They ended up as runners in the Global T20 World Cup Qualifiers, after losing to Sri Lanka in the finals. Having already played the Qualifiers in the UAE a few months back, they can easily adjust to the conditions.
Kathryn Bryce will lead the side with her sister Sarah Bryce as her deputy. Saskia Horley is the key player to watch out for in their line-up who brings a lot to the table with her batting prowess. Katherine Fraser, Darcey Carter, and Abtaha Maqsood are the other prominent players in the squad.
Scotland is in Group B who are placed along with formidable teams such as South Africa, West Indies, England, and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Women’s Squad Preview
Squad – Nigar Sultana (c), Dilara Akter (wk), Disha Biswas, Fahima Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Marufa Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Shathi Rani, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Sultana Khatun, Taj Nehar.
Bangladesh secured an automatic qualification to the event as the hosts, but unfortunately, they have to play away from home due to the political unrest happening in the country.
They previously participated in the last five editions but have yet to advance to the knockout stages. Of course, the talent is there, but a lack of structural guidance is hindering their progress at the biggest stage. Their performances this year are not overwhelming as they managed only 2 wins from 12 T20Is. They made it to the Semi-Finals of the Women’s Asia Cup but got thoroughly thrashed at the hands of India by 10 wickets.
Nigar Sultana will lead the side in the 9th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Disha Biswas, Fahima Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shati Rani, and Taj Nehar who were not part of the Women’s Asia Cup come into the squad, while there is no place for Ishma Tanjim, Rubya Haider, Rumana Ahmed, Sabikun Nahar, and Shorifa Khatun.
Australia, India, England, and South Africa are superior to the rest of the teams, and any one of those will clinch the title for sure. Sign Up now on our Cricket Betting App – GUGOBET and get a 100% Welcome Bonus to bet on ICC Women’s World Cup 2024!
