(Cricket news) Ireland women’s cricket team is set to travel to Zimbabwe to participate in a four match One Day International series next month and selectors have announced a 15 player squad for the tour.
The tour comes just before the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Global Qualifier that will be held in Zimbabwe in November and the four ODI’s will give the Irish women’s cricket team an opportunity to experience the local conditions before the tournament.
Zimbabwe Women’s cricket team recently won the ICC T20 World Cup African Qualifier, advancing to the Global Qualifier in 2022. Having finished second in the European equivalent of the tournament, Ireland women’s cricket team will be hoping to receive confirmation of progress as well.
THE SQUAD
Laura Delany (captain), Zara Craig, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Celeste Raack, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.
THE FIXTURES
5 October 2021: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 1st ODI (Harare Sports Club)
7 October 2021: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 2nd ODI (Harare Sports Club)
9 October 2021: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 3rd ODI (Harare Sports Club)
11 October 2021: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 4th ODI (Harare Sports Club)
Ireland Women’s Head Coach Ed Joyce said: “This tour will be an important part of our build-up to next month’s World Cup Qualifier, and will provide the squad with an excellent opportunity to experience playing conditions in Zimbabwe and at a key host venue as part of that Qualifier.”
“Our focus in recent months has been predominantly T20 cricket, so these fixtures are even more valuable to the players as a means of resetting their approach to take on the longer format of the game.”
“Several of the players in the squad were part of the 2018 side that toured Zimbabwe – and while that series suffered due to numerous rain-outs, the competitiveness and quality of both sides were tested, and we expect that this series will be no different.”
Also read: Heather Knight’s century guides England women to series win against New Zealand
