The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 officially kicked off today with Captain’s Day at the Dubai International Stadium, bringing together the captains of all 10 teams on the eve of the ninth edition of the tournament. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur highlighted the journey of continuous learning in cricket, saying, “I think it’s something that we keep learning every day. When you win, sometimes you feel, okay , This is something I have achieved, but the next day, you can make small mistakes. Learning never stops, every day is a learning day. The people around me are constantly helping and working hard to take our team to the level we want to reach. I am happy with that.”
Australia captain Alyssa Healy highlighted the competitive nature of the tournament, saying, “There are 10 teams here today that deserve to be here and have a real chance to win this World Cup. You don’t come here to defend the title. The World Cup doesn’t mean you come to win it. Our pool is quite difficult, we have to overcome a lot of these teams to win the trophy, and that’s a challenge we are excited about. “
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews reflected on the long preparation for the World Cup, saying, “You play with preparation all year, and this is the pinnacle of where you want to be as a team. Every series, every training session. “Focused on the World Cup goal, it’s a long process, but as a West Indies team, we have our sights set on it for a long time.”
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana acknowledged the initial disappointment of the event being moved from Bangladesh but remained optimistic. “Initially it was disappointing, but we are professionals. Now, we are here and focused. I am expecting a lot of spectators, especially because there are a lot of Bangladeshis in Sharjah. Playing in such an event, my We believe more people will come to support us.”
Scotland captain, Katherine Bryce, stressed their competitive spirit, saying, “We just want to compete in this tournament. We have played great cricket in the qualifiers, and our aim is to do justice to ourselves on the big stage with a good performance.” Is.”
England captain Heather Knight discussed the challenges and growth in her captaincy, saying, “Captaincy is a constant challenge. You’re always learning, adapting and growing. Over time, you get your messages across in different ways.” Learning to express, especially with the help of people around you. I have several coaches, and that helps keep things fresh, helps keep everything dynamic.”
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana expressed her approach to leadership: “I will try to enjoy myself, express myself and support myself as captain. The management supports me, I have to make bold decisions on the field.” My goal is to stay calm and let them make decisions.”
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, highlighting the developments in women’s cricket, said, “The women’s game has evolved amazingly on and off the field. You now see bowlers consistently bowling at 120 km/h and above. Are.” , reflects progress in fitness and skills. We have some promising young fast bowlers whose development over the last 12-18 months has been incredible.”
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt spoke about her focused approach: “Last year was great, but we’re taking it one game at a time. We’re in a tough pool, but hopefully we can make it to the semi-finals.” “We can create space, and from there, anything can happen. There have been changes in the team, but we are well organized with new coaches and additional support, it feels great to work on specific areas.”
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged their underdog status, saying, “We always come with the underdog tag, so there is no pressure. I don’t want to put pressure on my team too. We have a young team with some senior players. The team is there, and we have been playing great cricket for the last 16 months. This is a different format, so we will start fresh and take it one game at a time.”
The World Cup, which will see 23 matches played over 18 days in the host cities Dubai and Sharjah, promises to entertain and inspire a new generation of cricket fans while serving as a transformative platform for women’s cricket.
The opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be held in Sharjah, with hosts Bangladesh facing Scotland, followed by Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka.
This year, the ICC took a unique approach to the captains’ photograph, inviting each captain to personally showcase their enthusiasm for the tournament against the spectacular backdrop of the Dubai Frame, symbolizing the landscape of the UAE. The setting, blending the emirate’s iconic modern architecture with its desert heritage, reflects the cultural diversity of this World Cup edition.
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