The ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2023 is fast approaching, and the United Arab Emirates Cricket Board has already announced its official squad for the highly anticipated tournament. Leading the side as captain is the veteran all-rounder, Chaya Mughal, while Esha Oza has been appointed as the vice-captain. The team will be under the guidance of their experienced head coach, Ahmed Raza, who is a former UAE men’s captain.
Chaya Mughal is the most experienced player on the team, having played in numerous matches for UAE in the past. She is determined to lead her team to the championship title and ultimately to the main qualifiers to be held in 2024. Meanwhile, Esha Oza is already a well-known name in the international cricket arena, and her talent is undeniable. With a high score of 158* in the shortest format, she is a valuable asset to the team. Esha’s off-spin bowling skills are also exceptional, as evidenced by her best figure of 3/0 against Malaysia.
The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, Theertha Satish, is another talented player who will be playing a significant role in the team’s success. To date, she has scored an impressive 1067 runs at a strike rate of 112. Kavisha Kumari Egodage, an all-rounder, will also take on crucial responsibilities for the team. She has produced 1256 runs and 15 wickets in her career so far.
Vaishnavi Mahesh, a young and promising leg-spin bowler, is also expected to make a significant contribution to the team’s performance. With 45 scalps at an average of 12.91, she is the leading wicket-taker for UAE in the format. Her best performance of 4/12 came against the United States of America (USA). Khushi Sharma, a wicket-taking pacer, is also an essential player for the team. Her 40 wickets have come at an average of 15.07.
Other players who will play a vital role in the team’s success include off-break bowler Al Maseera Jahangir and Suraksha Kotte, pacer Avanee Sunil Patil, and all-rounders Indhuja Nandakumar, Lavanya Keny, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, and Siya Swarup Gokhale.
“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2023 is an important event for us. We aim to qualify for the main tournament next year. The team has worked hard in the lead-up to this event and we are confident of producing good performances in Malaysia. Our squad is well balanced and we are all keen on making a big impression and helping our team achieve the qualification target,” said skipper Chaya Mughal.
The tournament will be held in Malaysia, and UAE’s campaign will begin on the 31st of August against Bhutan. This will be followed by matches against the host Malaysia on the 1st of September, Qatar on the 3rd of September, Bahrain on the 4th of September, and Nepal on the 6th of September, which will conclude the league stage for the team. With such a talented and dedicated squad, UAE is sure to make a strong showing in the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2023.
UAE squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2023:
Chaya Mughal (captain), Esha Oza (vice-captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Avanee Sunil Patil, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kavisha Kumari Egodage, Khushi Mohan Sharma, Lavanya Keny, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Swarup Gokhale, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish and Vaishnave Mahesh.
Support staff: Subha Venkataraman (manager), Ahmed Raza (head coach), Nupur Nandan (physiotherapist).
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