Over in Group A, Namibia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are both searching for their first points in the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2026 in what is essentially a must-win survival match. Both teams have played two and lost two, leaving them at the bottom of the table with zero points. Namibia sits at the very bottom due to a slightly inferior Net Run Rate (-2.147) compared to PNG’s -1.775. For the loser of this contest, the dream of qualifying for the World Cup in England is effectively over.
Squads:
Namibia Women’s Cricket Team
Bianca Manuel, Edelle Van Zyl, Leigh-Marie Visser, Jurriene Diergaardt, Kayleen Green, Sune Wittmann, Wilka Mwatile, Merczerly Gorases, Sylvia Shihepo, Yasmeen Khan, Eveleen Kejarukua, Mekelaye Mwatile, Naomi Benjamin, Victoria Hamunyela
Papua New Guinea Women’s Cricket Team
Konio Oala, Lakshmi Rajadurai, Miria Raio, Naoani Vare, Henao Thomas, Hollan Doriga, Pauke Siaka, Brenda Tau, Dika Lohia, Erani Pokana, Geua Tom, Hane Tau, Isabel Toua, Mairi Tom
Players to watch out:
Yasmeen Khan
Yasmeen has been in scintillating form, playing a monumental lone hand for Namibia against the USA. She smashed a brilliant 74 off only 47 balls, an innings decorated with 11 boundaries and 2 sixes, striking at over 157. Including her warm-up performances where she also scored a half-century, she currently sits high on the leaderboard for total runs in the competition.
Saima Tuhadeleni
Saima has stepped up as a key wicket-taking threat for the Namibian side, particularly in high-pressure situations. In the narrow loss to the United States, she was the standout bowler, claiming 2 wickets for 28 runs and keeping Namibia in the hunt until the very last over. She has picked up 4 wickets so far and her ability to bowl disciplined lines has made her the go-to option for the captain when a breakthrough is needed.
Hane Tau
Hane has quickly become the focal point of Papua New Guinea’s bowling attack thanks to her incredible accuracy. She put in a match-defining performance during the warm-ups with 4 for 19 and followed it up with another 4-wicket haul in the main tournament against Zimbabwe. She currently holds 4 wickets at an average of 11.50, consistently unsettling batters with her tight lengths.
Brenda Tau
As the captain and wicketkeeper for Papua New Guinea, Brenda carries the dual responsibility of leading the side and anchoring the middle order. She has scored 48 runs in two games with the best of 35 averaging 24 and striking at around 100. While the team has faced some tough results in the group stages, her leadership behind the stumps and her experience in navigating tricky chases remain vital for PNG. She continues to be the tactical heart of the team as they look to turn their campaign around.
Pitch:
Mulpani Cricket Ground offers a balanced turf wicket with true bounce and pace, favoring seamers early before spin grips later. T20 records from 13 matches show 151 average first innings score, with teams bowling first winning 8. The quick outfield and 60-70m boundaries encourage attacking cricket.
Weather:
The weather will be cloudy during the day with a high of 17°C and a low of 6°C. There is a 10% chance of rain during both the day and night, with humidity levels around 48%. Winds will be light, coming from the west at 4 mph, and the UV index will be low at 1.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Leigh-Marie Visser, Kayleen Green, Wilka Mwatile, Yasmeen Khan, Naomi Benjamin, Victoria Hamunyela, Naoani Vare, Henao Thomas, Pauke Siaka, Brenda Tau, Hane Tau
Match Details:
Date – January 24, 2025
Time – 8:45 AM IST
Venue – Mulpani Cricket Ground, Nepal
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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