The opening match of the GCC Women’s T20I Championship 2025 promises to be a gripping contest as Kuwait Women take on Qatar Women. Both sides have shown promising skills in the lead-up to the tournament, and there’s a palpable sense of excitement among fans eager to see how these teams perform on the international stage. The game is scheduled from December 12, 2025, at Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat, starting at 11:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Kuwait Women’s Cricket Team
Balasubramani Shanti, Khandija Khalil, Maryyam Ashraf, Priyada Murali, Siobhan Gomez, Venora Shaina, Amna Tariq, Maryam Omar, Zeefa Jilani, Bhavani Yekkeli (wk), Suchitha Lita D Sa (wk), Ameesha Olacheri, Candice Dias, Maria Jasvi, Mariamma Hyder, Raelyn D’Souza
Qatar Women’s Cricket Team
Amma Kashif, Aysha, Lihara Ayeysekara, Shahreen Bahadur, Shrutiben Rana, Christeena Jacob, Getrude Candiru, Maria Jacob, Roheed Akhtar, Tafaul Elkhair, Krisheta Sarvanakumar (wk), Sargam Patel (wk), Khadija Imtiaz, Sarrinah Ahmed
Players to watch out:
Priyada Murali
Priyada Murali has played 53 T20I matches between 2019 and 2025, batting in 52 innings, and has accumulated a total of 711 runs. Her highest score in the format is 45, with a strike rate of 69.29, and she has hit 69 fours and 6 sixes. She also has 28 wickets to her name, with the best being 3/11.
Mariamma Hyder
A left-arm orthodox bowler, Mariamma Hyder has represented her team in 53 T20I matches from 2019 to 2025, bowling in 50 innings. In her career, she has taken 45 wickets with an impressive average of 19.28 and a low economy rate of 4.97. Her best bowling figures stand at 4 wickets for 8 runs. She has also stepped up with the bat, adding 214 runs from 36 innings.
Aysha
Aysha’s, from 2020 to 2025, has played 40 T20I matches. As a batter, she scored 790 runs in 40 innings, with a high score of 113* (including one century and one fifty) at a strike rate of 109.72. As a bowler, she claimed 27 wickets in 35 innings, averaging 22.70 with a best bowling return of 3/18.
Roheed Akhtar
Playing from 2024 to 2025, Roheed Akhtar featured in 10 T20I matches, bowling in 9 innings and delivering 31 overs. She took 8 wickets at an average of 24.62 and an economy rate of 6.35. Her best bowling figures for her T20I career are 2 wickets for 22 runs.
Pitch:
The pitch at Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1) is generally good for batting with true bounce but offers early assistance to pacers with some seam movement. Chasing teams have a better record here, so captains often prefer to bowl first. Scores in the 160–180 range in T20s and 250–280 in longer formats are competitive.
Weather:
The conditions in Al Amerat should be hot and dry with clear skies and only a very small chance of rain. Temperatures are likely to sit in the mid-to-high 20s (Celsius) with light winds. Overall, it should be excellent weather for an uninterrupted game.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Maryyam Ashraf, Priyada Murali, Amna Tariq, Maryam Omar, Candice Dias, Mariamma Hyder, Aysha, Lihara Ayeysekara, Shrutiben Rana, Christeena Jacob, Roheed Akhtar
Match Details:
Date – December 12, 2025
Time – 11:00 PM IST
Venue – Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat
Broadcast – T.B.C.
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