THE SCHEDULE for the practice matches ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 was announced recently with just over two months to go for the eight-team tournament which will be played in England and Wales from 24 June to 23 July.
The practice matches, which will be played at four different venues from June 19 to 22, will give sides the chance to acclimatise to the conditions and also test the caliber of teams they will face later, since all teams play each other in a round-robin league during the pinnacle women’s tournament.
The four top teams from the ICC Women’s Championship 2014-16 – Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies, qualified directly for the tournament while the remaining four – India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan came through the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 played in Colombo in February this year.
The tournament proper, consisting of 31 matches, will be played across five venues including Lord’s, which will host the final on 23 July.
West Indies will warm up against Pakistan on June 20 in Leicestershire and play South Africa two days later in Oakham.
West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor said: “We are waiting eagerly for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 and these practice matches will be just the kind of preparation we need ahead of it. We know this is going to be a tough tournament but we have the confidence of the ICC World Twenty20 victory behind us and go into the World Cup with confidence.”
Practice match schedule:
June 19: New Zealand v India in Derbyshire; England v Sri Lanka in Chesterfield.
June 20: West Indies v Pakistan in Leicestershire; Australia v South Africa in Oakham.
June 21: England v New Zealand in Derbyshire; India v Sri Lanka in Chesterfield.
June 22: Australia v Pakistan in Leicestershire; West Indies v South Africa in Oakham. (PR)
