All About Women’s T20 Cricket in Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham

Birmingham will witness T20 Cricket make its grand debut in Commonwealth Games 2022. It will also mark the maiden appearance of women’s cricket in the event. It is the second time we will see cricket in the Commonwealth games. Previously ODI cricket was part of the 1998 Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur. The confirmation came after a joint bid was made by International Cricket Council (ICC) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham will kickstart at Alexander Stadium on July 28th, 2022, and Women’s T20 cricket is scheduled from July 29th to August 7th. There will be eight international teams participating, including hosts England, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Barbados, and Sri Lanka. India is among the five nations that have directly qualified for the Commonwealth Games 2022, courtesy of its ICC WT20I team ranking.

The entry for cricket in the Commonwealth Games was approved after 71 Commonwealth Games Associations agreed to its inclusion. Cricket was thus added along with para table tennis and beach volleyball. This can help cricket enter the Summer Olympics 2028. For the first time, women’s medal events will outnumber men’s events, as well as a completely “integrated para-sport program.”

What is exciting to note is that sports, and by extension, sports betting is traditionally dominated by men’s sports. Now that women’s sports are gaining prominence will pique the interest of many people across the world. It has bettors and punters excited because it means more excitement for spectators.

Let’s discuss more women’s T20 entries to Commonwealth Games 2022. 

Women’s T20 Cricket Qualification Process for Commonwealth Games 2022:

• The top six nations in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings got the direct qualification to play T20 cricket in Commonwealth Games (England, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan)
• The final spots were decided through Commonwealth Games Qualifiers.

The Qualification of Barbados and Sri Lanka for Commonwealth Games 2022:

• Barbados secured the 7th spot in Commonwealth Games 2022. It will represent West Indies due to its victory in the CWI T20 Blaze tournament 2020, which was aligned with Commonwealth Games Association Tournament rules accepted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• Sri Lanka has booked the final spot in the women’s T20 cricket event at the Commonwealth Games 2022 after they managed to beat the Bangladesh cricket team in the qualifying tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sri Lanka defeated Scotland, Malaysia, and Kenya in their first three matches. Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapathtu is one of the best players on the team.  

• Cricket Qualifiers Points Table Commonwealth Games 2022 

Commonwealth Games 2022 T20 Cricket Schedule:

Complete Squad Women’s Cricket at Commonwealth Games 2022:

All the cricket games in the Commonwealth Games 2022 will be held at a single venue at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. Let’s look at the team of each nation participating in this exciting T20 event which will be the first for women’s cricket.

New Zealand Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Sophie Devine (c), Izzy Gaze, Claudia Green, Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Jess McFadyen, Hannah Rowe, and Lea Tahuhu.

Pakistan Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Bismah Maroof (c), Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nida Dar, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, and Tuba Hassan.

Australia Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Meg Lanning (C), Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, and Amanda-Jade Wellington.

Barbados Probable Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Hayley Matthews (Captain), Kyshona Knight, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shakera Selman, Kycia Knight, Shanika Bruce, Shai Carrington, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Trishan Holder, Shaunte Carrington, Shamilia Connell, Alisa Scantlebury, Charlene Taitt, and Aaliyah Williams

India Probable Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Richa Ghosh (WK), Sabbhineni Meghana, Meghna Singh, Simran Bahadur, Yastika Bhatia, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Renuka Singh, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Radha Yadav.

South Africa Probable Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Suné Luus (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits,Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Tumi Sekhukhune, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker, and Laura Wolvaard

Sri Lanka Probable Squad at Commonwealth Games 2022

Chamari Athapaththu (c), Anushka Sanjeevani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweeram, Achini Kulasuriya, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Udeshika Prabodhani, Rashmi de Silva, Malsha Shehani, Ama Kanchana, Hansima Karunaratne, Sathya Sandeepani, Tharika Sewwandi.

Adding Women’s T20 cricket to Commonwealth Game 2022 is a great initiative to popularize cricket in many countries that are still not involved in the sport. Women’s cricket also needs more push as its viewership is relatively less when compared to men’s cricket. This move of adding T20 cricket to the Commonwealth Games can open doors for adding the sport to the Olympics someday, which further can add more excitement to the game.