Ten women's teams are in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the ICC Women's World
Cup Qualifier 2011, which starts on Monday, and some of the men's team
captains have sent good luck messages to their female counterparts as
they strive to qualify for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2013Teams from South Africa, Ireland, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
Zimbabwe are in Dhaka alongside Japan, Bangladesh, USA and Netherlands
to play at four venues from 14 to 26 November.West Indies' men's captain Darren Sammy hopes Merissa Aguilleira's side
qualifies for the 2013 event "I captained and played in my first ICC
Cricket World Cup this year in the sub-continent and it is an experience
that I will never forget," he said. "I truly hope that the West Indies
women's team gets the opportunity to play in the women's event in 2013."The women's side has been performing well of late and I wish their
coach, Sherwin Campbell, along with captain Merissa Aguilleira and the
rest of the squad the very best of luck in Dhaka."The conditions in Bangladesh will be different to what the side is used
to but I am sure they will acclimatise and hopefully they'll be back
playing in the sub-continent in 2013 and walking away with the most
important trophy in women's cricket." South Africa's ODI captain, AB de Villiers, reminded newly appointed
captain Mignon du Preez and her squad just how great an opportunity it
is to play in an ICC Cricket World Cup."It's an amazing opportunity to play in any World Cup and represent your
country on the global stage. I'd like to wish Mignon and the rest of
the women's side the best of luck for the tournament in Bangladesh."We are hoping they not only qualify for the ICC Women's World Cup 2013
but they also join us in Sri Lanka at the ICC World Twenty20 2012 if
they finish in the top two".Pakistan and Sri Lanka captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Tillakaratne Dilshan
are both keen to see their respective female teams head on from
Bangladesh and into the ICC Women's World Cup 2013."There is nothing like representing your country in a World Cup and the
chance is there for Sana Mir to take her side once again to the ICC
Women's World Cup," said Misbah."The tournament conditions in Dhaka should hopefully favour the side and
I'm sure the 14 women travelling to Bangladesh for the event will do
their very best for Pakistan and qualify for the ICC Women's World Cup
in 2013 and if all goes well, finish in the top two and therefore also
qualify to join us in Sri Lanka at the ICC World Twenty20 next year," he
said.Dilshan said: "To represent your country at cricket is something truly
special and even more so when it is at an ICC Cricket World Cup."I would like to wish Dilani Manodara, her squad and the Sri Lanka
women's coach Harsha Gurunanselage the very best of luck in Dhaka. I
hope the side finish in the top four and once again have the chance to
compete at the highest level in women's cricket in 2013 and hopefully
they will walk away with the silverware."Zimbabwe will also be travelling to Bangladesh and must be confident
that this year the team qualifies for its first ICC Women's World Cup.Brendan Taylor wished all the best to Sharne Meyers' squad. "Zimbabwe's
women's team have not had the opportunity to play in an ICC Women's
World Cup and I truly hope they finish in the top four this tournament
and qualify for the World Cup in 2013."I'm sure under the leadership of Sharne, this young side will do well
in Dhaka and do Zimbabwe proud. It's also nice to see Chamu Chibhaba's
elder sister competing in the tournament, I'm certain Julia will do the
very best for her family and Zimbabwe, just like her younger brother."Ireland captain William Porterfield also sent his best wishes to the
Irish squad: "I'd like to wish captain Isobel Joyce, coach Jeremy Bray
and the rest of the Irish squad all the best as they attempt to qualify
for the ICC Women's World Cup 2013."I know just how hard they've prepared for the competition and hopefully
their commitment and dedication will pay off. They're a very young
squad with a lot of talented players who I'm certain will do Irish
cricket proud at the qualifier in Dhaka."Notes:The ICC WWCQ 2011 will be played at four venues in Dhaka, namely
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium,
BKSP 2* and BKSP 3.The teams have been split into two groups and the full schedule can be on the ICC website here.
The two groups are as follows:
Group ASouth Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, USA.
Group B
West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland, Japan, Bangladesh.
All games start at 0900 local time.
*BKSP is the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (Bangladesh Institute of Sports).
If you are interested in receiving information on the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier 2011 or wish to attend the event as an accredited member of the media, please contact Lucy Benjamin at lucy.benjamin@icc-cricket.com.
For more information on ICC WWCQ 2011 please visit www.icc-cricket.com.
