The Countdown has begun for the ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which will begin from October 3 concluding on October 20 in UAE. Ten teams will participate in the upcoming World Cup with India, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand & Pakistan as part of Group A while England, South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies & Scotland are in Group B. For many players, it will be their first World Cup experience representing their team on the global stage.
In this article, we will go through the players of respective nations who will play their maiden World Cup.
AUSTRALIA:
It will be a maiden T20 World Cup appearance for Australian batter Phoebe Litchfield. The young left-handed batter has been a standout performer for Australia, having made her T20I debut in 2022 against India. She had a phenomenal season in the ninth edition of the WBBL, representing the Sydney Thunder, scoring over 300 runs in 15 matches at a healthy strike rate of 130, including two fifties. Litchfield has played 16 matches in the T20I format, scoring more than 268 runs at an average of 38.28. She also played a resilient knock in the first T20I against New Zealand, scoring an unbeaten 64. Litchfield’s ability to anchor the innings and accelerate in different positions makes her a flexible player in Australia’s squad ahead of the World Cup.
BANGLADESH:
Rabeya Khan, the Bangladesh spin-bowling all-rounder has impressed in her young T20 career having made her debut in 2019 at the age of 14. In the recent Women’s Asia Cup, she was Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker & will lead the spin attack in the World Cup alongside Nahida Akhter.
Bangladesh spinner Sultana Khatun made her T20I debut in 2023 against Sri Lanka who was also part of the Bangladesh squad in the women’s Asia Cup. She brings variety in the bowling department with her off-spin.
Uncapped batter Taj Nehar is also part of the Bangladesh squad though is yet to make her debut for Bangladesh in any of the formats.
Shanti Rani, the Bangladesh opener who made her debut against India in 2023 has featured in five matches so far and was the NCL’s leading run-scorer with 284 runs at a strike rate of 151.06.
ENGLAND:
Bess Heath has featured in four T20Is so far for the English side and has been included in the upcoming T20 World Cup which marks her maiden World Cup. She made her T20I debut in March 2024 against New Zealand and most recently featured during England’s tour of Ireland. Heath enters the squad as a backup keeper, offering additional depth.
Danielle Gibson who’s known for her all-round abilities will play her first World Cup after being part of the English squad. Gibson made her T20I debut in the Ashes 2023 & since has played 18 matches to date. Recently she put up a brilliant performance both with bat & ball in a title-winning triumph for the London Spirit.
Freya Kemp will feature in the England T20 World Cup squad and has already put up multiple remarkable performances in her young T20I Career after making a debut for England in T20 against South Africa in 2022. With 19 appearances so far for England, Freya Kemp’s ability to bat in different positions & a variety in the bowling department provides an option of left-arm pace which will be vital for England at the World Cup.
INDIA:
Shreyanka Patil is set to embark on her maiden T20 World Cup providing a spin bowling option in the Indian team. Shreyanka had put up an impressive performance in the second edition of the Women’s Premier League representing Royal Challengers Bangalore as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament claiming 19 wickets in 15 matches. She made her debut against England in December 2023 in T20Is & has played 12 matches so far taking 16 wickets. She was part of India’s squad in the Asia Cup but following an injury, she was ruled out with the upcoming World Cup marking her comeback post-injury.
Asha Sobhana also received her maiden World Cup call-up after being named in India’s 15-player squad for the World Cup. Representing RCB in the WPL she claimed 17 wickets in 15 matches playing a crucial role in RCB’s trophy triumph. She made her T20I debut against Bangladesh in May 2024 & has played three matches so far in T20s. Asha comes into the squad as the only leg spinner with ability to deceive batters with sharp turns and clever variations. Asha will aim to make a significant impact in the World Cup.
Sajeevan Sajana is the third Indian player who received her maiden World Cup call-up ahead of the ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Sajana is a lower-order batter recognized for her finishing abilities which were witnessed in the second edition of WPL representing Mumbai Indians. She made her debut against Bangladesh in April 2024 & was part of India’s squad in the Women’s Asia Cup.
NEW ZEALAND:
Isabelle Gaze, the wicketkeeper batter, will feature for New Zealand in her first-ever World Cup. She made her debut for the white Ferns in T20Is against South Africa in the Commonwealth Games in 2022 & has played over 25 matches. With the only wicketkeeper in the squad, Gaze will play a key role behind the stumps & with the bat in the middle order for the White Ferns in the ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
PAKISTAN:
Gull Feroza, the Pakistan opening batter made her debut in 2022 against Sri Lanka. She has featured in over 15 matches & was Pakistan’s leading run scorer in the women’s Asia Cup scoring 149 runs in four matches. The right-handed batter will be a valuable player in the batting department.
Tasmia Rubab, the left-arm pacer has been included in Pakistan’s 15-player squad. She was part of the Pakistan A side before she made her international debut for Pakistan in T20 format against South Africa. Tasmia brings variety to the squad as a left-arm pacer.
South Africa:
Mieke De Ridder made her T20I debut for South Africa against Pakistan in September 2023 & has featured in two T20Is so far for South Africa. The inclusion of De Ridder in the 15-player squad marks her maiden appearance in the T20 World Cup, coming into the squad as a backup option as a wicketkeeper & a reliable batting option lower down the order.
Seshnie Naidu, the 18-year-old leg spinner made her debut for the Proteas in the recent South Africa series against Pakistan. She is the youngest player from South Africa to feature in the ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The young spinner has been considered as an ‘X’ factor by the South Africa management.
Sri Lanka:
Shashini Gimhani is one of the two Sri Lankan players who will play their maiden World Cup. The ambidextrous wrist-spinner made her debut for Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier becoming the youngest Sri Lankan to play a Women’s T20I. She was also part of Sri Lanka’s squad in the women’s Asia Cup. The young leg spinner brings variety to the Sri Lankan squad and can showcase her talent on the global stage.
Sachini Nisansala, the left-arm orthodox bowler made her T20I debut for Sri Lanka in 2022 against Scotland in the Commonwealth Games qualifier, is the other set for her maiden World Cup appearance. She has played 11 matches so far claiming six wickets.
West Indies:
Ashmini Munisar, the West Indies all-rounder made her debut in the T20 format against Ireland in July 2023 & has featured in three T20Is so far. She was recently part of the Barbados Royal title triumph in the third edition of the WCPL. The upcoming ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup will mark her maiden World Cup appearance.
Mandy Mangru is yet to make her debut in the T20I format, the batting all-rounder has featured in ODIs for the Windies. The upcoming World Cup can potentially be the stage where the spin-bowling all-rounder can make the debut for her side in the T20 format.
Qiana Joseph is a left-arm orthodox bowler who made her debut for the Windies in the T20I format in the year 2021 against South Africa. She has played over 10 matches in the T20 format & has been handy with the bat lower down the order. She was recently part of the Barbados Royals claiming six wickets in five matches.
Nerissa Crafton, the left-arm pacer is an uncapped player who’s yet to make her international debut for the Windies. It is her maiden call-up for the Windies in the upcoming T20 World Cup.