India take on WI in opener
31 Jan 2013 1:22 AM GMT
Untouched by the hype and hoopla that follows their male counterparts, India’s women cricketers are all set to start their World Cup campaign when they take on the West Indies in a Group A match on Thursday. The day-night clash would set the ball rolling for the event, which will also be held in Cuttack where Pakistan (placed in Group B) are based due to security concerns in Mumbai.
Group A matches are to be held in Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, MIG Club at Bandra and the Bandra-Kurla Complex ground of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Group B matches, involving strong contenders Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan, would be held in two grounds in Cuttack. The remaining group fixtures for India, who finished third in the last championship, are against three-time winners (1973, 1993 and 2009) England at the Brabourne on February 3, and qualifiers Sri Lanka at the same ground on February 6.
Prior to that England will take on Sri Lanka on February 1 at Brabourne. Sri Lanka would lock horns with the West Indies side on February 4 at the MIG ground in Bandra while the England-Windies clash on February 6 is scheduled at the BKC.
Apart from Mithali, India would bank on former captain Jhulan Goswami, diminutive batter Poonam Raut, wicketkeeper Sulakshana Naik. The bowling attack would be spearheaded by Gouher Sultana and Niranjana Nagarajan. ‘We have senior players like Jhulan Goswami, Amita Sharma, vice-captain Hamanpreet Kaur, who has been among runs. We have two comeback players (Murugesan) Thirush Kamini, Karuna Jain, who have played the last World Cup. I am hoping that with this kind of combination, we will do very well,’ said world number one batter and Indian captain Mithali Raj.
West Indies feature a mixture of youth and experience, including the only twins in the event, Kycia and Kyshona Knight of Barbados. The side is led by Trinidadian Merissa Aguilleira while ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year 2012, Stafanie Taylor, is her deputy.
In-form spinner Anisa Mohammed will be the one to watch after the 24-year-old claimed 7-14 in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in 2011 against Pakistan. She will be hoping the sub-continent conditions will suit her style of play. Indian World Cup squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Ekta Bisht, Amita Dass, Jhulan Goswami, Karuna Jain, Reema Malhotra, Mona Meshram, Thirushkamini Murugesan, Sulakshana Naik, Niranjan Nagarajan, Rasnara Parwin, Punam Raut, Shubh Lakshmi Sharma, Gouher Sultana.
Group A matches are to be held in Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, MIG Club at Bandra and the Bandra-Kurla Complex ground of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Group B matches, involving strong contenders Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan, would be held in two grounds in Cuttack. The remaining group fixtures for India, who finished third in the last championship, are against three-time winners (1973, 1993 and 2009) England at the Brabourne on February 3, and qualifiers Sri Lanka at the same ground on February 6.
Prior to that England will take on Sri Lanka on February 1 at Brabourne. Sri Lanka would lock horns with the West Indies side on February 4 at the MIG ground in Bandra while the England-Windies clash on February 6 is scheduled at the BKC.
Apart from Mithali, India would bank on former captain Jhulan Goswami, diminutive batter Poonam Raut, wicketkeeper Sulakshana Naik. The bowling attack would be spearheaded by Gouher Sultana and Niranjana Nagarajan. ‘We have senior players like Jhulan Goswami, Amita Sharma, vice-captain Hamanpreet Kaur, who has been among runs. We have two comeback players (Murugesan) Thirush Kamini, Karuna Jain, who have played the last World Cup. I am hoping that with this kind of combination, we will do very well,’ said world number one batter and Indian captain Mithali Raj.
West Indies feature a mixture of youth and experience, including the only twins in the event, Kycia and Kyshona Knight of Barbados. The side is led by Trinidadian Merissa Aguilleira while ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year 2012, Stafanie Taylor, is her deputy.
In-form spinner Anisa Mohammed will be the one to watch after the 24-year-old claimed 7-14 in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in 2011 against Pakistan. She will be hoping the sub-continent conditions will suit her style of play. Indian World Cup squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Ekta Bisht, Amita Dass, Jhulan Goswami, Karuna Jain, Reema Malhotra, Mona Meshram, Thirushkamini Murugesan, Sulakshana Naik, Niranjan Nagarajan, Rasnara Parwin, Punam Raut, Shubh Lakshmi Sharma, Gouher Sultana.
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