(Cricket news) Cricket Ireland has today announced the 15-player squad that will compete in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier from 18-25 September 2022 in the UAE. The squad will fly to Dubai for a preparation camp from 10-14 September, playing a warm-up game against Papua New Guinea on the 13th. The Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers consists of eight teams split into two groups of four teams, with the top two teams of each group playing in the semi-finals. The winner of each semi-final will qualify for the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, February 2023. The group matches will be played between 18-21 September, with semi-finals (23rd September) and final (25th September). 

The Groups are:

Group A: Ireland, Bangladesh, USA, Scotland
Group B: Papua New Guinea, Thailand, UAE, Zimbabwe

Ireland Women’s squad

Selectors have named a 15-player squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier:

Laura Delany (capt), Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.

Ireland Women’s fixtures – September

Warm-up T20I series against ScotlandC

5 September: Scotland Women v Ireland Women, 1st T20I (The Grange; 1pm start)
6 September: Scotland Women v Ireland Women, 2nd T20I (The Grange; 1pm start)
8 September: Scotland Women v Ireland Women, 3rd T20I (The Grange; 1pm start)

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier

13 September: Warm-up match v PNG
18 September: Ireland Women v Bangladesh Women (Zayed Cricket Stadium; start 2pm)
19 September: Ireland Women v USA Women (Tolerance Oval; start 2pm)
21 September: Ireland Women v Scotland Women (Tolerance Oval; start 10am)
23 September: Semi-Final (if Ireland qualifies)
25 September: Final (if Ireland qualifies)

Carrie Archer, Chair of National Women’s Selectors, said: “We have had a busy few months of white-ball cricket, playing South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Netherlands and Scotland coming up shortly – and while each series has held its own importance, the programme has been building towards this qualifier. As a squad, we want to be competing on the highest stage possible, and the T20 World Cup in South Africa is one such occasion that we want to qualify for.

“We last featured in a white ball world cup in November 2018, and so much has changed and progressed in the subsequent years that we feel we are in a far better place today. The introduction of professional contracts, the appointment of a full-time support and coaching staff, investment in training hours, facilities and – of course – qualification for the ICC Women’s Championship have dramatically changed the landscape for our women’s performance squad. Indeed, we go into this qualifier with a much-renewed sense of direction and mindset. Although the squad is still relatively young, it is a highly competitive group that is eager to contribute, excel and impress.

“We have a series against Scotland just prior to the tournament and will be looking to build on the progress we have made this summer. As always, to be able to call on the experience of Eimear Richardson is a welcome opportunity, and we are also pleased that several players should be back to full fitness following recent injuries. We wish Ed Joyce and his squad well for the Qualifier. I am aware of how much hard work and dedication the coaching and support teams, as well as the players,  are putting in behind the scenes and am confident that this will be evident throughout each tournament.”

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