LISTICLE
Follow UsThe ninth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 will get underway from July 19 (Friday) as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Women will take on Nepal Women at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. On the same day, defending champions India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the second game at the same venue.
Eight teams are part of the tournament, also marking the comeback of Nepal who missed the last edition in 2022. We pick one player from each team who could be the game-changer.
Mahirah Izzati Ismail (Malaysia)
The Malaysian team, which will be playing their third consecutive T20 Women’s Asia Cup, will be banking on their star all-rounder Mahirah Izzati Ismail. The 24-year-old, who made her debut in 2018, has been in great form leading up to the tournament. The right-arm off-break bowler has 36 wickets in 32 matches since January 2023 while at the same time, she has also scored 300 runs at an average of 14.8.
Chanida Sutthiruang (Thailand)
In the absence of Nattakan Chantam, who is the leading run-scorer in Thailand’s cricket history, the Thailand Women will pin their hopes on all-rounder Chanida Sutthiruang in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024. Chantam is out of the tournament with an injury.
Suthhiruang, an all-rounder who bowls right-arm medium fast and bats right-handed, has scored 187 runs at an average of 14 and also taken 27 wickets in 28 games at an average of 12.9 and a strike rate of 18.3.
Rubina Chhetry (Nepal)
Nepal, who are making a comeback to the Asia Cup T20, having missed the last edition, will have high expectations from Rubina Chhetry, who is the only century maker from the country. The 30-year-old, who debuted in 2019, hit the century against Maldives in Asia Cup Qualifiers held in Malaysia.
Since 2023, Chhetry has scored 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 27.28 and a strike rate of 105.5. With the ball, the right-arm medium-fast bowler has been equally impressive, picking up 19 wickets in 23 games at an economy rate of 3.7.
Vaishnave Mahesh (UAE)
UAE, who made their debut in the Women’s Asia Cup in the previous edition, will be bolstered by the current form of their skipper Esha Oza, who has since the last Asia Cup, added one more century to her kitty to take the tally to three, which is the joint most for any woman cricketer alongside Tanzania’s Fatima Kibasu.
But it is not Oza who will only pose the danger. Vaishnave Mahesh, the 17-year-old sensation who bowls leg-break and bats right-handed, also possesses the quality to shock established teams. The bespectacled teenager has taken 52 wickets in just 34 matches since January 2023 at an astonishing average of 10.3. With the bat, the Chennai-born has scored 120 runs in 18 innings.
Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh)
Sultana, the leading run-scorer for the country since January 2023, with four fifties and 576 runs in her kitty, will be the one looked upon for inspiration from others, both as the leader of the team and the batting unit. Her average of 27.42 is far better than the second-best batter (among players with 20 innings under their belt) Mushida Khatun, who averages 15.88.
Richa Ghosh (India)
India have too many names to pick from but Richa Ghosh is such an impact player that she could change the complexion of the game in the space of few balls with the bat in her hand. Scoring 333 runs in 16 innings since January 23, Ghosh has a strike rate of 134.3, which is the fifth highest among all players in the world with at least 15 innings under their belt.
Muneeba Ali (Pakistan)
Muneeba Ali, who scored Pakistan’s first and only T20I century, will be the flag bearer of the country’s hopes in the Women's Asia Cup 2024. Muneeba has been the leading run scorer for the Pakistani unit, scoring 546 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 105.2.
Muneeb, along with the likes of Aliya Riyaz and skipper Nida Dar, will look to make things count for the side, who have failed to make it to the final since 2016.
Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka)
Chamari Athapaththu is the biggest Sri Lankan name in women’s cricket. But Harshitha Samarawickrama has gradually grown from the shadows of her captain. Samarawickrama has scored 664 runs at an average of 41.5, which is the fifth highest in the world among batters with at least 500 runs since January 2023.
Along with young guns like Vishmi Gunaratne and the skipper Athapaththu, Samarawickrama will be eyeing the maiden Women’s T20 Asia Cup trophy for Sri Lanka. They have form by their side and also the advantage of playing at home. If Samarawickrama and Co. perform to their abilities, they might just create history on July 28 in Dambulla.
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