Edinburgh:The battle for two ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 places heats up ahead of the Global Qualifier starting on August 31 in Scotland.Hosts Scotland face USA at Forfarshire Cricket Club on the opening day of competition at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, with the match being live streamed via the ICC's digital platforms.
Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce said, "We can't wait to get the tournament started with the game against the USA. We haven't played them since the European/American qualifiers in Scotland two years ago, but we just want to concentrate on playing the best cricket we can as a team and making a real statement at the start of the competition.""The profile of women's cricket seems to be multiplying with every competition that takes
place, and especially with things like live streaming," she said.
USA captain Sindhu Sriharsha said, "Coach Julia Price and the management team have worked with the team for the past six months. We have been committed and we are prepared for this day. We have to trust our training and preparations, to go out on the field and execute our plans."
"I am excited that budding women cricketers in the USA have the opportunity to watch the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers live and will be motivated to continue working hard and make the team one day," she said.
Bangladesh will take on PNG in the day's other live streamed match at Forfarshire Cricket Club.
PNG captain, Kaia Arua said, "Right from the start of the tournament we want to play
good positive cricket and if we do so we have a good chance to qualify. It will be great
for some of the girls to show our brand of cricket."
"I feel that women's cricket is far more popular now than when I started playing and
more girls at home are involved and we are improving. I think it is fantastic that
supporters back home can watch the live stream and see how we play overseas," Arua
said.
Saturday's fixtures at Arbroath Cricket Club will see Thailand play Netherlands and Namibia face Ireland.Thailand captain Sornnarin Tippoch said, "We have worked hard all year, planned well and grown with positive intent and play with good intensity. We will make one of
those ICC Women's T20 World Cup spots Thailand's."
Netherlands captain Juliet Post said, "We are going into this tournament with a point to prove to ourselves and we want to come out on the other side with our heads held high. It is T20 cricket and that means there will be a few surprises and maybe we can be one of them. As a team we will all give our best, show good intent and fight like lionesses."
"The media coverage that is being done around women's cricketing events has got a lot better and it is good to see that there is a big focus to get even better," she said.Ireland captain Laura Delany said, "At the moment our focus is getting out of the group stage, we've had a couple of tough games against Thailand but I am hopeful we will put that right come the qualifiers. Should we qualify, there's nothing more exciting for a cricketer than playing in a World Cup."
"Live streaming is a brilliant addition to the qualifiers this year. The more exposure of the women's game the more it will continue to grow and develop," said Delany. Namibia captain Yasmeen Khan said, "Our goal is to make sure we play good cricket all the time and stay in the competition to improve our chances of qualifying. We do not strive to be a perfect team, but rather strive for progress."Ahead of the tournament games beginning on Saturday, all teams will play a warm-up game on Thursday.
Warm-up matches:
29 August:
Ireland v PNG (Forfarshire Cricket Club, 10h00)
Bangladesh v Netherlands (Arbroath Sports Club, 10h00)
Scotland v Namibia (Forfarshire Cricket Club, 14h00)
Thailand v USA (Arbroath Sports Club 14h00).
(UNI)
