✪ Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier starts in the UAE with players chasing their dream to play in the 2023 World Cup
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”3px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”width: 75% !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”width: 100% !important;” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”width: 75% !important;”][et_pb_blurb title=”K R Nayar” image=”https://cricketlovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/K-R-Nayar1.png” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” image_icon_width_tablet=”” image_icon_width_phone=”” image_icon_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” content_max_width_tablet=”” content_max_width_phone=”” content_max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.13.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Poppins|700|||on||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#E02B20″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”Poppins||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#565656″ custom_padding=”|||550px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|||20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_blurb_image=”width:70px;” image_max_width_tablet=”” image_max_width_phone=”” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Senior cricket writer & analyst
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”8px||||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]The tournament commences with the UAE taking on Malaysia in the opener at the ICC Academy grounds from9.30am on November 22. Bhutan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Nepal train hard to make a mark in international cricket in this week-long contest.
UAE skipper Chaya Mughal
From Monday (November 22), the UAE will witness the cream of women cricketers from Asia battling in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier to be held at the ICC Academy Cricket Grounds.
Hosts UAE, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Nepal are the participating teams. The teams have arrived here and have been practicing hard since the winners of this six-team tournament will go up to play in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2022, and then try and clinch a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 to be held in South Africa.
Team UAE will try and utilize their familiarity with the conditions here to outscore their opponents. In the warm-up match played on November 19 at the MCC Ground in Ajman against Bhutan, they announced their strength piling up 142 for 2 in the 20 overs and restricting Bhutan to 54 for 8 and winning by 88 runs.
UAE skipper Chaya Mughal and her team commence their dream to play in the World cup with their first match against Malaysia on Monday. They will try and emulate the UAE men’s team which has already played in the 50-over as well as T20 World Cups. Her remark was filled with confidence when she said: “Playing in the World Cup is a dream for every cricketer and knowing that it’s just two steps away will certainly push everyone to give their best. The team is anticipating a successful campaign with all the positive vibes around.”
What is giving her the impetus is what happened in the recent Men’s T20 World Cup held in the UAE. “It has been extremely motivating to see the Associate teams in World Cups. We had five Associate teams in the Men’s T20 World Cup this time and two of them made it to the Super 12s. This is certainly a platform where each player dreams to showcase their talent.”
Bhutan captain Yeshey Choden
For all the women teams, this will be a much-needed exposure. Bhutan will be making their debut at an ICC women’s event when they take on Kuwait in the opening day on Monday. Incidentally, Bhutan had made their international debut through the 2009 ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship and their first win was against Qatar.
Bhutan captain Yeshey Choden is hereafter working hard despite the restrictions from the COVID-19 Pandemic. “We worked hard to get match fit and I am very thankful to our Board for giving us the opportunity and investing in us. Till now we had been playing Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments where only teams from Asia compete. But playing in ICC events gives us a chance to play against teams from around the globe. So, winning this tournament gives us more opportunities to showcase our talent and we are looking forward to it,” said Choden.
Kuwait captain Ana Sharif Tariq
Kuwait, like Bhutan, had also made their international debut through 2009 ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship but tasted success only in the 2011 edition of this event. Kuwait captain Ana Sharif Tariq has a mission. She wants her team to do well and inspire more women in Kuwait to take up the sport. “We are looking forward to utilizing this opportunity to gain some much-needed exposure and bring glory to Kuwait. We hope to inspire many young girls and women to take up the sport, adding to the overall pool of players which will enhance development domestically and pave way for a brighter future in women’s cricket,” said Tariq.
Malaysia captain Winifred Anne Duraisingam
Malaysia is special in many ways. They have even won a bronze medal in the 2017 South Asian Games. Thailand won the gold and Indonesia the silver medal. Malaysia captain Winifred Anne Duraisingam even remarked: “As a team, we have gained more knowledge in every way possible. It is also good to see Associates move a step closer to a higher level of cricket. It will be an honour for us to stand alongside other Associate Members and play in the World Cup.”
Nepal is one of the most impressive teams in this tournament. They had reached the final of the 2007 ACC Women’s tournament and have won the 2008 ACC Under-19 Women’s Championship and even defended that title in 2010
Nepal captain Rubina Chhetry Belbashi
Nepal captain Rubina Chhetry Belbashi sees the tournament as an opportunity of a lifetime. Belbashi and her team has a mission which all players cherish. She remarked about it too. “I am very excited to play in the Qualifiers because it has been a dream for me and my team for the past 15 years to qualify and play in the World Cup. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us.”
Hong Kong had played in Asian Games. Their past is impressive as in 2009 they won the ACC Women’s T20 Championship Trophy and even won it again in 2011. They have also played in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. In 2014 they even reached the quarterfinals.
Hong Kong captain Ka Ying Chan
Hong Kong captain Ka Ying Chan revealed that they have come here after working hard. “It’s been so long since we’ve been able to play international cricket. I can’t wait to get back out there. It’s an honour to take part (in the tournament) and it’s a great opportunity to play against different countries. I want to thank all the people who have been working behind the scenes to make sure the team is prepared and also to the team’s families for supporting us.”
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