Samoa has announced their squad for the upcoming 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025. The mega ICC event will get underway on 18th January 2025 (Saturday) and the grand finale will be played on 2nd February 2025 (Sunday) at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur from 12 noon Indian Standard Time (IST).
The upcoming tournament will mark a historic occasion for Samoa Cricket as it will witness their maiden campaign in the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025. Avetia Fetu Mapu has been named as the skipper of their maiden campaign in the upcoming edition of the Women’s Under-19 World Cup.
The junior Samoan brigade, led by skipper Avetia Fetu Mapu, finished on top of the points table with 10 points, coming off five victories, and a solitary defeat against Papua New Guinea from 6 games in the East Asia Pacific Qualifier which was held in Indonesia from the 14th to 20th May 2024.
Samoa defeated Fiji, led by skipper Mele Waqanisau, by four wickets chasing a target of 88 with 34 balls to spare on the final day of the qualifying tournament in Indonesia. They scripted a historic chapter in their sporting history by becoming the first Samoa team in men’s or women’s cricket across any format or age level to qualify for a World Cup event.
Samoa squad for the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup 2025:
Avetia Fetu Mapu (C), Olive Lefaga Lemoe, Verra Farane, Angel Sootaga So, Norah-Jade Salima, Stefania Pauga, Jane Tali’ilagi Manase, Masina Tafea, Silepea Polataivao, Katrina Uiese Taa Samu, Stella Sagalala, Barbara Ella Keresoma, Apolonia K Polataivao, Selina Lilo, Sala Viliamu
Verra Farane was named the batter of the tournament in the East Asia Pacific Qualifier in Indonesia in May 2024, with 196 runs to her name. Skipper Avetia Fetu Mapu led from the front with 61 runs with the bat and 8 wickets with the ball for her side in the tournament. Masina Faimafili Loini Tafea also was a stand-out performer for Samoa scoring 27 runs with the bat and picking up 13 wickets with the ball for her side in the tournament.
Olive Lefaga Lemoe displayed her all-round capabilities, scoring 62 runs with the bat and picking up 7 wickets with the ball for Samoa in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifying tournament. These four players also made their way into the Team of the Tournament for the East Asia Pacific Qualifiers last year.
Samoa is placed in Group C, alongside New Zealand, South Africa and Nigeria. The Avetia Fetu Mapu-led side will kickstart their maiden campaign in the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in 2025, with a game against Nigeria, led by skipper Lucky Piety, in the 3rd game of the opening day of the tournament on 18th January 2025 (Saturday) at Borneo Cricket Ground, Kuching from 8:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST) onwards.
Loves all things female cricket
