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The much-awaited Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup is finally here and will take place in South Africa. The tournament will begin on January 14 and continue until January 29. A total of 16 teams from various nations would compete in the event’s inaugural edition.
Unlike the Men’s U-19 World Cup, which is held in a 50-over format, this maiden edition of the Women’s World Cup will take place in a 20-over format.
The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in January 2021 with Bangladesh as hosts but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian selectors for the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup have picked two players into their squad who have already donned the country’s international jersey.
Like India, many other nations competing in the tournament also included some experienced campaigners in their squads.
On that note, let’s have a look at the list:
1) Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma will lead India in the inaugural U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. The 18-year-old is known for her aggressive batting style.
Shafali made her International debut for India in 2019 at the age of just 15 against South Africa in a Women’s T20I match. Since then, the opening batter has scored 1231 runs in 51 WT20Is at a strike rate of 134.53.
With such a great experience to her name, skipper Shafali would look to lead her team upfront and lift the trophy for India.
2) Theertha Satish
Theertha Satish will lead the UAE in the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. In 2021 she debuted for UAE in International cricket and has so far played 33 T20I matches. The wicketkeeper batter has been excellent with the bat and has 823 runs to her name, including six fifties.
With Satish’s vast experience, the UAE team will look to perform well in the tournament.
3) Kelis Ndlovu
Kelis Ndlovu will lead Zimbabwe’s Under-19 women’s team in the upcoming event. The all-rounder, having represented the country at the international level, was chosen for the captaincy role by the management.
Kelis has 285 runs in WT20Is at a strike rate of 87.69. With the ball, she has 15 wickets to her name with a great economy of 4.91.
Zimbabwe in the tournament are placed n Group B.
4) Fran Jonas
Fran Jonas represented New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games 2022, where the 18-year-old played four matches and took three wickets at an economy of 5.75.
Jonas was also part of the senior squad for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 squad.
New Zealand in the Tournament are placed in Group C.
5) Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh made her international debut for India in February 2020. Her first game was a T20I against Australia. The 19-year-old was also part of India’s 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup team.
Richa has played 30 WT20I and has 427 runs to her name, with an impressive strike rate of 134.27. The wicketkeeper-batter, with her experience, will try to support skipper Shafali and other teammates.
6) Aroob Shah
Aroob Shah was announced as Pakistan’s skipper for the Under-19 team just a month ago. The 19-year-old has represented Pakistan in two WODI’S and five WT20Is.
In 2019, Shah made her international debut against Bangladesh in a One Day International (ODI) game.
Pakistan board will expect Shah to use her experience to outclass opponent teams.
7) Georgia Plimmer
Georgia Plimmer made her international debut for New Zealand last year. However, The start of her international career has not been convincing so far as she only has scored 51 runs in 10 WT20Is she played.
Plimmer was also part of New Zealand’s women’s squad for the Commonwealth Games 2022.
8) Isabella Gaze
Isabella Gaze has also been included in New Zealand’s U-19 women’s squad. She represented Black Caps in 13 International games and has 42 runs.
Along with Jonas and Plimmer, Gaze made it into the New Zealand Women’s squad for the 2022 Common Wealth Games.
9) Amy Hunter
Amy Hunter will captain Ireland’s Under-19 T20 World Cup team. She has had a great start to her international career as the 17-year-old batter has smashed 294 runs in 11 WODI games.
In 2021 Hunter scored her maiden century against Zimbabwe and became the youngest women cricketer to score a ton.
Ireland in the tournament are placed in Group C.
10) Vishmi Gunaratne
Vishmi Garunaratne made her international debut in 2022 when Sri Lanka faced Scotland in the Commonwealth Games qualifier. The the-17-year old has been given the opportunity to lead the Islanders in the forthcoming tournament.
Garunaratne has played nine games for Sri Lanka, scoring 104 runs at a strike rate of 75.91.
