Routes to Qualification
This years’ World Qualifiers, hosted by the Netherlands, will be held between the 7th to the 14th of July 2018 and will see eight countries, Bangladesh, Ireland, PNG, Scotland, Netherlands, Uganda, Thailand and the UAE competing for a place in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20. Only the top two teams will qualify.
With the 7th of July just around the corner, here’s all you need to know about the routes to qualification.
The Tournaments:
Bangladesh and Ireland qualified for this tournament by virtue of participating in the 2016 World T20.
The other six teams who have “qualified for the qualifiers” will have done so by performing well in their region. In 2017, four Regional Qualifiers were held for:
The results of these tournaments, and the teams that competed are shown below.
This was the first regional tournament and was played in Sano, Japan. In the four team tournament, PNG were the only team to qualify with captain Pauke Siaka awarded player of the Tournament.
In this three team tournament, both Scotland and the Netherlands qualified with Heather Siegers from the Netherlands named Player of the Tournament. The games were played in Stirling, Scotland.
In the five team tournament, Uganda were the only team to qualify after beating Zimbabwe in the finals at Windhoek, Namibia. All- rounder Getrude Candiru picked up player of the tournament.
This was the last of the regional qualifiers played in Bangkok, Thailand. Of the six teams competing, both the UAE and Thailand qualified with Nisha Ali named player of the tournament.
Comments
It is interesting to note that Scotland and the Netherlands appear to have had the easiest route to qualification, with 2/3 teams competing in the European/ America Qualifiers earning qualification. Uganda have had the hardest route having had to come 1/5 in the Africa Qualifiers.
During an informal match played yesterday, Thailand beat the Netherlands by 60 runs. It will be interesting to see if the Netherlands and Scotland live up to expectations, with the other four teams having had to fight harder for qualification.