The upcoming sixth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi during April and May. Ten teams will participate, grouped into two sets of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners securing a spot in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. The tournament kicks off on April 25th, culminating in the final on May 7th.
Group A comprises Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and the United States contending for advancement, while group B features Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
Taking into account these ten teams, here are the top two teams currently in excellent form and poised for victory in the upcoming World Cup Qualifier.
1- Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan women’s team showcased remarkable prowess in the recent T20I series against South Africa, engraving their names in history by clinching their first-ever series win against the Proteas. Although they stumbled in the opening T20I, they bounced back with consecutive victories in the next two matches. South Africa, currently ranked 5th in the ICC T20I rankings and already qualified for the T20I World Cup, was defeated by Sri Lanka, highlighting the latter’s potential as a strong contender in the qualifiers and affirming their current form.
In the second and third T20Is, Sri Lanka emerged victorious by 7 and 4 wickets respectively, highlighting their resilience and adaptability. Notably, Harshitha Samarawickrama emerged as the top scorer for the Sri Lankan, amassing 104 runs in three innings with an impressive average of 52. Achini Kulasuriya also made her mark, claiming 4 wickets in three innings with an average of 22.50. A standout performance came from Sugandika Kumari, who secured a three-wicket haul with skipper Chamari Athapaththu’s commanding 73-run innings in the third T20I, significantly contributing to her team’s historic series victory in any format against the Proteas.
Their previous achievements, such as being runners-up in the 2023 Asian Games, further strengthened their capabilities. They showcased formidable form by defeating Pakistan in the Asian Games semi-final by 6 wickets and Thailand in the quarter-final by 8 wickets, who are also one of the strong contenders in the qualifiers.
2- United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates’ triumph in the recently concluded ACC Premier Cup solidifies their status as a formidable force in the forthcoming qualifiers. Their victory, secured by a commanding 37-run win over Malaysia in the final, underlines their capabilities on the field. Notably, they also defeated Thailand in the semi-final by a narrow margin of 4 runs, who are placed in Group A.
The recognition from the ICC further validates UAE’s prowess, with their skipper and all-rounders being nominated for the Player of the Month in February. UAE skipper Esha Oza who was the ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year 2022, amassed an impressive tally of 249 runs, emerging as the leading run-scorer of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, and also clinched two wickets in six matches. Oza was also awarded the prestigious Player of the Tournament title, a testament to her exceptional display throughout the competition. Additionally, Kavisha Egodage’s stellar performance, accumulating 218 runs and claiming eight wickets in the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, highlights her crucial role in UAE’s success.
With the UAE set to host the upcoming T20I World Cup Global Qualifier, they have a significant advantage with home-ground familiarity. Their knowledge of the grounds and conditions provides them with a strategic edge, positioning them as strong contenders in the quest for qualification.
Aside from these two teams, Ireland has been in stellar form lately, clinching a 5-0 T20I series victory against Zimbabwe, who are also contenders in this tournament. With players hitting their stride, Ireland emerges as a formidable force in the competition. Notably, Ireland’s wicketkeeper-batter, Amy Hunter, scored a total of 240 runs across 5 innings in that series, earning her the prestigious title of ICC’s Player of the Month for January 2024.