We are just a few days away from the upcoming 9th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. It was earlier set to be hosted by Bangladesh, however, due to the unfortunate turn of events, resulting in political imbalance within the country, the tournament was shifted to the United Arab Emirates.
All the teams have announced their respective squads for the upcoming edition of the tournament scheduled from 3rd to 20th October 2024. In this article, we will have a look at the players who made a comeback into the World Cup squad after an injury break.
Australia:
Around 33% of Australia’s squad for the World Cup, with as many as five players, namely Darcie Brown, Tayla Vlaeminck, Grace Harris, Kim Garth, and Sophie Molineux have returned to the squad after recovering from an injury. The return of these players will significantly bolster Australia’s bowling department in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Darcie Brown: The young 21-year-old speedster pulled out of their tour to Bangladesh in March earlier this year courtesy of a foot injury. She returned to the side in the ongoing white-ball T20I series against New Zealand and picked up one wicket in her spell in the 2nd T20I of the series.
Tayla Vlaeminck: The 25-year-old speedster has had multiple injury setbacks in her career so far. Tayla was part of the 2018 World Cup winning team and briefly returned to the Australian set-up in the year 2020 before another injury ruled her out of action for a reasonable amount of time. Following a brief return to bowling against England in an ‘A’ series in 2023, she made an impressive return to the Australian set-up on their white-ball tour to Bangladesh in March, earlier this year, picking up four wickets in a couple of innings with the ball in the T20I series. She will play a crucial role in leading the Australian pace attack alongside the likes of Darcie Brown in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Grace Harris: The 31-year-old all-rounder was ruled out of The Hundred in July 2024 due to a left calf injury. She also sustained a low-grade right calf strain last week which has now ruled her out of the ongoing three-match T20I series against New Zealand. However, she’ll be up and ready with full fitness for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Kim Garth: The 28-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder suffered a left knee injury in the 4th edition of The Hundred while representing Manchester Originals. She has resumed bowling and as a precautionary measure is rested from the ongoing New Zealand series.
India:
Much like most of the other teams, the Women in Blue led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was also hit by a couple of injuries including the likes of Yastika Bhatia who used to be a dependable batter in the middle order for India.
Shreyanka Patil: The young 22-year-old spin bowling all-rounder from Bangalore, Karnataka sustained a fracture to the 4th finger of her right hand in the first game of India’s Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan. She was eventually replaced by Tanuja Kanwer in India’s Asia Cup squad. However, she has recovered from her injury and has been picked up in the World Cup squad. She has a knack for taking wickets and it’ll be watched if she gets a nod in the first choice playing 11 straightaway.
Yastika Bhatia: The young 23-year-old opening wicket-keeper batter sustained a grade one PCL tear in her left knee during a bilateral series in Bangladesh. She underwent surgery and courtesy of her rehab, missed the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. However, she has gained full fitness and will be ready to roar in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand:
The White Ferns led by skipper Sophie Devine will be more than happy to see the return of the likes of Rosemary Mair ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Rosemary Mair: The young 25-year-old medium pacer was dropped from the White Ferns side a couple of years ago in the year 2022. However, she returned to the national set-up in March in a home series against England, earlier this year, courtesy of her impressive performances at the domestic level. She suffered a back injury during that series which ruled her out for a decent period of time. She has been picked in the White Ferns squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. She is fully fit and available for selection in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan:
The Pakistan women’s team led by the new skipper Fatima Sana was sweating over the fitness of one of their lead-spinners in the form of Sadia Iqbal ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in UAE. However, they would be pleased to see her back in action.
Sadia Iqbal: The 29-year-old left-arm spinner was added to Pakistan’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad subject to fitness. Fit-again, she returned to bowling in Pakistan’s lead-up series to the World Cup against South Africa.