Abu Dhabi, The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Sana Mir, the former Pakistan cricket team captain, as the ambassador for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier. The tournament, supported by Dream11, will host 10 teams competing for two spots in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. The competition will take place in Abu Dhabi from April 25 to May 7.
According to International Cricket Council, Mir will play a vital role in guiding and mentoring the teams and players throughout the qualifier. With 226 international caps and 137 as captain, Mir brings a wealth of experience to the tournament. She expressed enthusiasm for her role as ambassador, emphasizing the qualifier’s importance not only as a pathway to the T20 World Cup but also as an opportunity for Associate Member teams to gain significant exposure and experience.
The tournament will feature intense competition among teams divided into two groups, with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals. Mir highlighted the increasing competitiveness of women’s cricket and pointed to the potential for upsets, noting the strong capabilities of teams like Scotland, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe, alongside favorites such as Sri Lanka and Ireland.
Mir, who retired with 2,432 international runs and 240 wickets, also mentioned her ongoing connection to the game and her mentorship roles, particularly with the Zimbabwean players during the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup. She looks forward to seeing the continued evolution of the T20 format, acknowledging the increasing emphasis on power hitting and aggressive play, exemplified by players like Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu.
The tournament’s night matches have had their start times revised to 19:30 local time to accommodate conditions and broadcast schedules. The matches will be held at the Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling qualifier.