ICC releases revised schedule of Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022


The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the revised schedule of  ICC Women's World Cup scheduled to be held in 2022 in New Zealand. Notably, the event earlier planned to take off in 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now commence on March 4 and finish on April 3 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.

There will be a total eight teams participating in the competition where a total of 31 matches have to be played across six major cities of New Zealand - Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin. The knockout games will be played at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch; and Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Five teams such as India, Australia, South Africa, England, and New Zealand have already qualified for the marquee event while the other three participants will come from the ICC qualifying tournament scheduled to take place in June-July next year in Sri Lanka. The hosts New Zealand will take on one of the three incoming teams from the qualifier tournament in the tournament opener on March 4, 2022.

India, who were defeated by the defending champions England in the finals at the Lord’s in the last competition will start their campaign against one of three qualifying teams on March 6. The Women in Blue will play all their matches under lights at the Seddon Park in Hamilton.

On the other hand, England will open their defence of the title against Australia on March 5 in Hamilton.

India captain Mithali Raj is rejoicing at the prospect of leading her team once again into an ICC tournament where the team has been putting up a consistently good performance. She said that the success of her team and if they can take a leap by winning the title in 2022, it will inspire the current and next generation of girls in the country to take up the game very seriously.

"We have all been through a very difficult year and are happy to be getting back at playing the game we all love. India has been doing very well at ICC tournaments in the past three or four years, whether you talk about the (ODI) World Cup or the recently concluded T20 World Cup, and if we manage to win the tournament in 2022, it will be a massive inspiration for the next generation of girls, as the fifty-over format, is considered the pinnacle for any cricketer. I can assure you the team and I are looking forward to it," Raj said.

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