Canada’s national women’s cricket team face a tough opening hurdle with a game on Tuesday afternoon (July 23) in Dublin, Ireland against Sri Lanka’s women, the top seeded team in Canada’s four-team Group B. The World T20 qualifier involves eight national teams, divided into two groups of four in the initial phase. The top seeded team is Pakistan Women, who are in Group A along with the Netherlands (seeded 4), Thailand (5) and Zimbabwe (8). Canada’s group comprises Sri Lanka (seeded 2), host Ireland (4), Canada (6) and Japan (7).
Canada faces Ireland on Thursday (July 25) and concludes group action against Japan on Saturday (July 27).
The top two teams from each group meet in cross-over semi-finals (July 29) that are followed by a Final and a third/fourth place match (July 31). The top three teams from the Qualifying tournament in Ireland advance to the 2014 ICC World T20 finals to join Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies.
The lower two teams from the groups meet in cross-over games to determine the playoff lineups to decide positions 5 through 8.
Canada played warm-up matches against Scotland and Thailand in Dublin last week. All four matches were lost, but improvements were made over the two days as the squad gained experience of local playing conditions and the opposition.
Canada Women’s Squad – 2013 ICC World Cup Qualifier
Mikaela Turik (Captain) Born: Sydney, Australia; RHB, Right Hand Medium; Current club: Kaisoca Ladies (TDCA)
Jenna Bartholemew Born: South Africa; RHB, Right Hand Medium; Current club: Calgary Cricket
Christine Blackadder Born Sydney, Australia; RHB, Right Hand Medium; Current club: West Vancouver (BCML)
Kim Coulter Born Sakai ,Japan; RHB,WK; Current club: Wicket Maidens (VDCA Midweek)
Lorraine Kenton Born Jamaica; LHB, Left Hand Medium; Current club: Kaisoca Ladies (TDCA)
Mahwish Khan– RHB, Right Hand Medium; Current club: Qasra Cricket Academy (TDCA)
Kamna Mirchandani Born: Bombay (now Mumbai); RHB, Right Hand Legbreak; Current club: Qasra Cricket Academy (TDCA)
Monali Patel Born: Nairobi, Kenya; RHB, Right Hand Offbreak; Current club: Qasra Cricket Academy (TDCA)
Durriya Shabbir Born Madras (now Chennai) RHB, Right Hand Slow; Current club: Qasra Cricket Academy (TDCA)
Suthershini Sivanantham Born Colombo, Sri Lanka; RHB,WK, Right Hand Offbreak; Current club: Qasra Cricket Academy (TDCA)
Sheryl Tittlemier–Born: Selkirk, Manitoba; RHB
Vijayani Vithanage Born: Kurunegala, Sri Lanka; LHB, Left Hand Medium:
Joanna White– Born: Canada; RHB, Right Hand Slow; Current club: Wicket Maidens (VDCA Midweek)
Saniyah Zia — Born: Pakistan; RHB, Right Hand Medium; Current club: Qasra Cricket Academy (TDCA)