ICC Announces Schedule Of ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015

Eight sides to vie in Bangkok for two available places at the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016

Clare Connor: “These are unprecedented times for women’s cricket in terms of volume of cricket”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the schedule of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015, which will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 28 November to 5 December.

Eight sides will go head to head in the week-long tournament with the two finalists joining reigning champion Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies in the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which will be staged alongside the men’s event from 11 March to 3 April 2016.

These eight sides have earned direct qualification to next year’s event after finishing in the top eight of the previous event, which was held in Bangladesh, while Bangladesh and Ireland have progressed to the qualification tournament after finishing ninth and 10th, respectively.

The event host, Thailand, is joined by China, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, and Zimbabwe which all qualified for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 through regional tournaments.

According to event format, the eight sides have been divided into two groups with the top two from each group moving to the Trophy semi-finals and bottom two from each group playing in the Shield semi-finals. The teams contesting the Trophy final will qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 2016.

The 20 matches will be equally shared between the Thailand Cricket Ground (TCG) and Asian Institute of Technology Ground (AIT) with the former holding the Trophy play-off as well as the final on 5 December and the latter staging the Shield play-off and the final on the same day.

ICC Women’s Committee Chair and former England women’s captain Clare Connor welcomed the announcement, saying: “The announcement of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 schedule is great news as the eight sides can now start their focused planning and preparations.

“It will be fascinating to see how this next tier of international teams compete against one another. This event will provide an opportunity to the Cricket Association of Thailand (CAT) to promote and market the game in its territory, an opportunity which will highlight the truly global appeal of the women’s game.

“The regional qualifying tournaments, the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier and the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship are all testament to the fact that women’s cricket is thriving. With two ICC Women’s World Cups, two ICC World Twenty20s and two stand-alone ICC Women’s World Twenty20s to take place over the next seven years, these are unprecedented times for women’s cricket in terms of volume of cricket and give us a wealth of fantastic opportunities to enhance the profile of our sport.”

This is the second edition of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier, after the 2013 event was hosted by Ireland with Pakistan and Sri Lanka being adjudged as joint winners. Ireland was the third side to qualify for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2014.

Jodie Fields and Charlotte Edwardspose with the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2012 trophy.

The two groups are:

Group A Group B
Bangladesh Ireland
Thailand Netherlands
Scotland China
Papua New Guinea Zimbabwe

Event schedule

Sat, 28 Nov – Thailand v Bangladesh, TCG (1000-1245); Ireland v Netherlands, AIT (1000-1245); PNG v Scotland, TCG (1345-1630); China v Zimbabwe, AIT (1345-1630)

Sun, 29 Nov – China v Ireland, TCG (1000-1245); Scotland v Bangladesh, AIT (1000-1245); Zimbabwe v Netherlands, TCG (1345-1630); Thailand v PNG, AIT (1345-1630)

Tues, 1 Dec – Thailand v Scotland, TCG (1000-1245); Bangladesh v PNG, AIT (1000-1245); Zimbabwe v Ireland, TCG (1345-1630); Netherlands, China, AIT (1345-1630)

Thurs, 3 Dec – Trophy semi-final 1 (A1 v B2) (1000-1245), TCG; Shield semi-final 1 (A3 v B4), AIT (1000-1245); Trophy semi-final 2 (B1 v A2), TCG (1345-1630); Shield semi-final 2 (B3 v A4), AIT (1345-1630)

Sat, 5 Dec – Trophy third/fourth place play-off, TCG (1000-1245); Shield third/fourth place play-off, AIT (1000-1245); Trophy final, TCG (1345-1630); Shield final, AIT (1345-1630)

CAF OPPOSES POSTPONEMENT OF FIFA ELECTIONS

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) opposes any postponement of the 65th FIFA Congress and the election for the presidency scheduled for 29 May 2015 in Zurich.

At the confederation meeting held on Wednesday, 27 May 2015 in Zurich, CAF reiterated its support for the candidacy of incumbent Joseph Sepp Blatter during the election.

FIFA

It should be noted that CAF is following with particular attention the events happening in the football family at this time.

CAF reaffirms its commitment to work and to cooperate in safeguarding the ethical and moral values ​​that underlie the practice of the sport, its organization and administration; hence our full support to the measures initiated by FIFA in recent years in improving good governance.

CAF reaffirms its readiness to cooperate in this direction with all the institutions that engage and subscribes to zero tolerance vis-a-vis offenders regardless of their profile or origin.

Sunshine Stars win League Bloggers Awards Q1 award

Sunshine Stars have been named the winners of the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Q1 after finishing the top of the Glo Premier League in the first quarter of this season.

The Owena Waves, after match day 10 in the Nigerian top flight amassed 20 points, two more than the chasing pack of Kano Pillars and Enyimba in second and third positions respectively.

Sunshine Stars won six matches, drew two and lost two while they scored 14 goals, including five of the goals being netted by Tunde Adeniji. They shipped in seven goals from the 10 games played.

The Akure club are yet to lose in their last five matches including a win at Heartland and a draw at Nasarawa United. Their last defeat was on match day five when they lost one-nil at El-Kanemi Warriors on
April 22.

Sunshine Stars have also scored in every of their last five matches in the league.

“Sunshine Stars have been playing great football since the second half of the first quarter and it’s no surprise that they have emerged winner of Quarter One.

“Congrats to the Akin Akinbobola-led management, coaches Kennedy Boboye and Henry Abiodun, players as well as supporters, for this feat,” LBA CEO, Ojeikere Aikhoje said.

Sunshine Stars players

The Q-award started in 2013 and current Glo Premier League champions, Kano Pillars, won the maiden edition in the first quarter with 19 points.

Sharks were the winners of the same award last year after the first 10 matches with 18 points.

It is a quarterly award instituted by the LBA to honour winners of each of the four quarters in the Glo Premier League. The second quarter will run from match day 11 to 19.