ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier: All You Need to Know
The final two spots for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be decided at the Qualifier beginning on 25 April in UAE.
Ten teams aim to claim the final tickets for Bangladesh via the tournament in Abu Dhabi, with T20 World Cup spots decided on 5 May and a Qualifier winner crowned on 7 May.
How did teams reach this stage?
Eight of the competiting teams enter the tournament having earned their spot via regional qualifiers.
Thailand and UAE claimed the two spots in the Asia Qualifier, with Netherlands and Scotland prevailing in Europe. Uganda and Zimbabwe advanced via the Africa Qualifier, while one spot was available each across the Americas and East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers, claimed by USA and Vanuatu respectively.
Having missed out on automatic T20 World Cup 2024 qualification via their finishing postitions at T20 World Cup 2023, Sri Lanka and Ireland move back down to the forthcoming global qualifier to earn their spot.
Dramatic three-run win for Sri Lanka over South Africa in the Women's T20WC opener.
What is the format?
The teams have been put into two groups of five, with sides playing everyone in their group once.
Top-two finishers in the group stage move onto the semi-finals, with teams finishing first in their groups meeting the second-place finisher in the opposing group. The winners of the semi-finals claim the final ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 spots, before meeting in the 7 May Final for tournament bragging rights.
Group A: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Scotland, Uganda, USA
Group B: Ireland, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, UAE, Vanuatu
Nattakan Chantam | Thailand's trailblazer | 100% Cricket
Group A preview
Chamari Athapaththu's Sri Lanka are early Group A and tournament favourites, coming into the tournament with a bilateral series win over T20 World Cup 2023 finalists South Africa. The side were also Asian Games finalists, only falling to India in the competition final.
Sri Lankas defeated Thailand in that Asian Games run, with the T20 World Cup 2020 participants again in the mix for a qualification spot. The Thais' bowling and fielding remains their strength, led by spinner Nattaya Boochatham who boasts 116 T20I wickets, the most for a player at the tournament.
Boochatham's batting contribution will prove vital, though the side to this point looks to Nannapat Koncharoenkai for the bulk of their runs, and Nattakan Chantham if she can find her groove.
Scotland were comfortable entrants via the European Qualifier, and also boast a recent T20I win over Ireland in bilateral action. Bryce sisters Sarah and Kathryn remain the key cogs for the Scots, though the work of Ailsa Lister, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji will also go a long way to qualification.
In the thick of action in Africa, Uganda were only bettered by Zimbabwe in regional qualification. The Lady Cranes have built a side to challenge for qualification, with the all-round efforts of Janet Mbabazi and Rita Musamali the standouts of the group.
It may be a T20 World Cup cycle or two early for the USA squad of relative youth, though the team are led by the experienced Sindhu Sriharsha, a member of several USA squads at global qualifiers.
Group B preview
T20 World Cup qualification will be the mimumum objective for Laura Delany's Ireland, though they face a Group B cohort boasting impressive recent results.
Zimbabwe were too strong in Africa qualifying, undefeated in their campaign which included a comfortable win over Namibia to secure qualification and a relatively simple chase over tournament hosts Uganda.
The Netherlands are a team building in collective strength, highlighted by a victory in one of their two meetings with Scotland in regional action, while UAE showed their mettle at both the Asia Qualifier and the ACC Women's Premier Cup by beating Thailand on their way to winning both competitions.
Vanuatu turned heads by beating Papua New Guinea on matchday one of the East Asia Pacific Qualifier, holding off the Lewas in the single round-robin competition. Then 16-year-old spinner Vanessa Vira raced onto the East Asia-Pacific scene to top the wicket tally at the event, with Rachel Andrew's batting complimented by Nasimana Navaika, Valenta Langiatu and others.
Where to watch?
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 is available to be viewed live, on-demand and for free on ICC.tv in selected regions.
Venues
The Tolerance Oval and the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium (both in Abu Dhabi) share tournament hosting duties.
Each venue has a day game and a night match during the Group stage, meaning 20 matches will be completed in five matchdays.
The semi-finals and final of the tournament will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on May 7.
Fixtures
A total of 20 matches will be played during the Group stage after which the top two teams from each Group will play the semi-finals.
The winners of both semi-finals will qualify for the main event.
Thursday, 25 April
- Sri Lanka vs Thailand at Tolerance Oval
- Scotland vs Uganda at Tolerance Oval
- Ireland vs UAE at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Zimbabwe vs Vanuatu at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Saturday, 27 April
- Vanuatu vs Netherlands at Tolerance Oval
- UAE vs Zimbabwe at Tolerance Oval
- Uganda vs USA at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Scotland vs Sri Lanka at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Monday, 29 April
- USA vs Scotland at Tolerance Oval
- Uganda vs Thailand at Tolerance Oval
- Ireland vs Zimbabwe at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Netherlands vs UAE at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Wednesday, 1 May
- Zimbabwe vs Netherlands at Tolerance Oval
- Vanuatu vs Ireland at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Sri Lanka vs Uganda at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Thailand vs USA at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Friday, 3 May
- Thailand vs Scotland at Tolerance Oval
- USA vs Sri Lanka at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- UAE vs Vanuatu at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Netherlands vs Ireland at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Semi-Finals (Sunday, 5 May)
- Semi-Final 1 at Zayed Cricket Stadium
- Semi-Final 2 at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Final (Tuesday, 7 May)
- Final at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Warm-up matches
Each team will play two warm-up matches from April 21 to April 23.
Sunday, 21 April
Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi
Thailand vs UAE, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi
Zimbabwe vs USA, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Ireland vs Scotland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Uganda vs Vanuatu, Mohan Oval, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, 23 April
Uganda vs UAE, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi
Sri Lanka vs Vanuatu, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi
Thailand vs Netherlands, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Zimbabwe vs Scotland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Ireland vs USA, Mohan Oval, Abu Dhabi
Squads
Each of the 10 teams have named their squads for the Qualifier, with Thailand the final side to put their squad forward.