Given that cricket, both men’s and women’s is one of the most popular sports in the world, with its levels of popularity making it a surefire option in online sports betting platforms that usually give more focus to American sports betting activities like picking the top NFL picks against the spread, it’s always a good time to talk about the sport. Now, as we wait until 2022 for the coveted ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to go down in New Zealand, a lot of action already is brewing, especially since the final qualifying rounds for the tournament are oficially under way in Zimbabwe to determine the last three teams that will join New Zealand, Australia, India, England and South Africa in the hopes of winning the ICC Women’s World Cup title.
With nine teams battling for the last three spots remaining in the Tournament, after Papua and New Guinea had to forfeit because of Covid-19 related complications, which teams look best prepared to take one of the remaining three spots left to qualify for next year’s competition in New Zealand? Let’s take a look.
Pakistan
One team that came as a surprise when they did not qualify directly for the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup but look as the top favorites to take the qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe and put the rest of the other qualified teams on notice is Pakistan. After barely missing out on finishing on the top four of the Women’s Championship, in part because of India, Pakistan will be looking to take this tournament in Zimbabwe as the perfect preparation for what they will be looking to bring to the World Cup in New Zealand next year.
While usual captain Bismah Maroof will be out because of maternity leave, the new captain Javeria Khan alongside players like Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Muneeba Ali, Anam Amin, and others, all led by head coach David Hemp, will be looking to bring in the perfect mix of experience and youth explosiveness to put them over their competitors and seal their ticket to New Zealand as easily as possible.
West Indies
Since we’re talking about Pakistan, the last team to play against Pakistan before the qualifier tournament and the last team to beat them as well makes their way into our list. The West Indies “Windies” will be looking to give Pakistan a run for their money for the supremacy in Zimbabwe’s qualifier tournament as well as showing all of the other teams that there’s a lot of great cricket coming out of the Caribbean. Their lineup is filled with players that are more than ready to take the next step and cement their team’s status as one of the squads to fear in next year’s tournament. With captain Stafanie Taylor at the helm and pivotal players like Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin all playing some of the best cricket around, they will surely be a force to be reckoned with.
While the former T20 World Cup Champions from 2016 have had some very promising runs in the international cricket scene, when it comes to the ICC World Cup, a runner-up position in 2013 is their best result to date, which means that putting on a strong qualifying run that leads them to New Zealand might be the kick start they need to take down any and all competition on their way to trying to win the World Cup title.
Bangladesh
Last but certainly not least, if we want to talk about a team that could perfectly fit the quiet underdog character, but that can still bring down cricket powerhouses like India to their knees, then Bangladesh has earned its right to be considered one of the top favorites to make it to the New Zealand 2022 World Cup and to be a real threat in Zimbabwe’s qualifier tournament. Definitely look to players such as captain Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, and Jahanara Alam to be the leaders of this Bangladesh team that could come right out of the gates surprising everybody.
While Bangladesh’s winning record and percentages as of lately have not been shining at best, that doesn’t mean that this team is not ready to bounce back once again and make a statement by qualifying for next year’s ICC World Cup. What will be needed and expected from them is for the team to be able to come into their own skins once again and prove to cricket fans all around why they have been known for putting on some amazing performances from time to time when they were least expected.
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