Thailand has announced an experienced 15-member squad for their first-ever appearance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Sornnarin Tippoch will lead the team, comprised mostly of familiar names who have gelled well together as a unit.
The story of Thailand women’s rise in the international arena is nothing short of what could be termed as a phoenix rising from the ashes. After a splendid 2019 where they won a record 17 consecutive T20Is, they are ready to face top teams in the World Cup.
Placed in Group B along with England, Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indies, Thailand start their World T20 campaign against West Indies in Perth on February 22.
Squad: SornnarinTippoch (c), Nattaya Boochatham, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Naruemol Chaiwai, Nattakan Chantham, Ratanaporn Padunglerd, Suleeporn Laomi, Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Onnicha Kamchomophu, Phannita Maya, Chanida Sutthiruang, Soraya Lateh, Rosenanee Kanoh, Thipatcha Puttawong, Suwanan Khiaoto.
1. Sornnarin Tippoch (c)
Leading from the front since the very beginning, the off-spinner has played a key role in the resurgence of team Thailand at the global stage. With 39 wickets from 35 T20Is and essential contributions with the bat, she remains an indispensable part of the unit.
2. Nattaya Boochatham
Boochatham, who finished 2019 as the highest wicket-taker in T20Is with 40 scalps, will spearhead the Thailand bowling attack. The 33-year-old will provide her vital experience in the middle throughout the course of the tournament.
3. Wongpaka Liengprasert
Off-spinner Wongpaka Liengprasert made her international debut way back in 2013 before Thailand received T20 status. She was responsible for scripting the momentous victory over Sri Lanka in the 2018 Asia Cup bagging five wickets to dismantle the opposition.
4. Chanida Sutthiruang
The right-arm medium pacer made her senior debut in 2012 against Pakistan and has been a constant presence in the side since then. She was named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year in 2019
5. Naruemol Chaiwai
Right handed batswoman Naruemol Chaiwai in the past year scored 517 runs in 25 innings at an average of 25.85. She was the leading run-scorer for Thailand in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in Scotland last year.
6. Nattakan Chantham
Opening batter Natakkan Chantam scored 498 runs in 24 innings at an average of 29.29 with two half-centuries to her name in the year 2019. She remains the backbone of the Thai batting unit.
7. Ratanaporn Padunglerd
The 29-year-old seamer brings much-needed variety to Thailand’s bowling attack. Also, she remains handy with the bat lower down the order.
8. Suleeporn Laomi
The young leg spinner had a phenomenal 2019 picking up 37 wickets in 25 games at an economy rate of 3.24. The leading wicket-taker for Thailand just behind Boochatham, Laomi adds to the Thai bowling attack and remains an interesting option to deceive opposition batters.
9. Nannapat Koncharoenkai
The 19-year-old wicketkeeper batter had a splendid 2019 behind the stumps. She took 14 catches and effected 15 stumpings with her effortless glovework. With the bat she has scored 323 runs in the 24 times she has come out in the middle for her country and also has a half-century to her name. In the Asia Cup 2018, she was named as Thailand’s rising star of the competition by ICC.
10. Onnicha Kamchomophu
22 year old Kamchomphu became the first Thai woman to take a hat-trick in a T20I when she did so against Ireland in August 2019. She has played 33 international matches for Thailand.
11. Phannita Maya
Phannita Maya had been missing from the Thailand lineup for a long time before being included in the World Cup squad. The all-rounder last turned up in a match against USA women in August 2019
12. Soraya Lateh
The 20-year-old made her international debut in 2019 against Kuwait. She was part of the Thailand women’s victorious campaign in the World T20 Qualifiers in Scotland.
13. Rosenanen Kanoh
The off-spinner made her international debut against Bangladesh in the Netherlands in August 2019. She has been a successful campaigner as part of the Thailand A team.
14. Thipatcha Puttawong
Thipatcha Puttawong is of the two players alongside Suwanan Khiaoto who is part of the T20 World Cup squad despite not taking part in the qualifying tournament which was held in Scotland last year.
15. Suwanan Khiaoto
Yet to make her international debut for Thailand, the wicketkeeper batswomen also did not feature in the Qualifiers played in Scotland last year.
