Fatima Sana captains ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier Team of the Tournament
Four players from Pakistan's unbeaten side have been named in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier Team of the Tournament.
Muneeba Ali, Fatima Sana, Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal are each selected, with Fatima named as captain.
They are joined by three players from the West Indies and two apiece from Bangladesh and Scotland in the line-up selected by a panel consisting of event commentators Andrew Leonard, Marina Iqbal, Kainat Imtiaz and Joel Manning.
Muneeba, who scored 223 runs including half-centuries against Scotland and Bangladesh, is picked as one of the openers alongside Hayley Matthews, who enjoyed a strong tournament with bat and ball.
Matthews made an unbeaten century in a losing cause in the West Indies' opening match against Scotland and finished by scoring the second fastest half-century in women's ODI history against Thailand, reaching the landmark in 21 deliveries on her way to a 29-ball 70.
The 27-year-old also topped the wicket-taking charts with 13 scalps, including four-wicket hauls against Scotland and Ireland.
Bangladesh's Sharmin Akhter is picked at three after a consistent tournament which saw her score half-centuries against Thailand (94 not out), Scotland (57) and the West Indies (67), finishing with 266 runs at 66.50.
She is followed by the competition's leading run-scorer and Player of the Tournament, Kathryn Bryce, who backed up scores of 91 against Pakistan and 60 against Thailand with a majestic 131 not out against Ireland, her first ODI century. She also took six wickets across the Qualifier.
Nigar Sultana takes the gloves after playing an integral role in the three victories which ultimately secured Bangladesh's progress to the Women's Cricket World Cup, notching consecutive scores of 101, 51 and 83 not out.
She is followed by the skipper, Fatima, who shone with bat and ball as Pakistan won all five of their matches to top the table and secure their own place at the main event later this year. She scored 106 runs – including an unbeaten 62 against Thailand – and took 12 wickets at 12.25, while going at fewer than four runs an over.
The West Indies duo Chinelle Henry and Aaliyah Alleyne are included in the lower middle order. Henry made 46 not out against Ireland and 51 not out against Bangladesh before blasting five sixes in a remarkable 17-ball 48 in their win over Thailand.
Alleyne took 12 wickets, including four for 39 against Bangladesh, two clear of Katherine Fraser and Nashra Sandhu, who are also selected.
Scotland star Fraser, took three-wicket hauls against both the West Indies and Thailand, also chipping in with valuable runs, while Nashra took wickets in every match, including three apiece against Ireland and Thailand.
Sadia Iqbal rounds out the team after taking nine wickets at 16.22 and going at just 3.84 runs an over, providing a consistent performer for the hosts.
Rabeya Khan, who took three wickets in Bangladesh's pivotal win over Ireland and six overall, is named as 12th player.
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier – Team of the Tournament Hayley Matthews (West Indies) Muneeba Ali (Pakistan) Sharmin Akhter (Bangladesh) Kathryn Bryce (Scotland) Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh) WK+ Fatima Sana (Pakistan) CAPT* Chinelle Henry (West Indies) Aaliyah Alleyne (West Indies) Katherine Fraser (Scotland) Nashra Sandhu (Pakistan) Sadia Iqbal (Pakistan)
12th Player: Rabeya Khan (Bangladesh)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Brook relishing ‘fun' start as England captain after Windies clean sweep
Harry Brook said he was having a 'hell of a lot of fun' as England captain after his first series in permanent charge of the white-ball sides ended in a 3-0 clean sweep of the West Indies. England recorded their first one-day international series whitewash in three years — when they beat the Netherlands by the same scoreline — following a dominant seven-wicket success at the Oval on Tuesday. Brook's men made light of a revised target of 246 after rain reduced the match to 40 overs per side. Jamie Smith, promoted to open this series, launched the run chase with a dynamic 64 off 28 balls as he posted a maiden ODI fifty in front of his Surrey home crowd. Jos Buttler, Brook's predecessor as limited-overs captain, finished the job with 41 not out as England cruised home with more than 10 overs to spare. Yet England came into this series on a seven-match losing streak in ODI cricket, including a woeful Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan earlier this year that prompted Buttler's resignation as skipper. 'It's a hell of a lot of fun when you're enjoying it with a lot of mates,' said Brook, whose attention now turns to a three-match T20 series with the West Indies starting at Chester-le-Street on Friday. 'I think we've got such a good side. The depth in batting is amazing and then we've got a lot of skilful bowlers as well.' England were back to their best in the field at the Oval after letting their standards slip at Cardiff on Sunday following a 238-run rout of the West Indies in last week's series opener at Edgbaston. That England managed a three-wicket win in Wales that put them an unassailable 2-0 up was largely down to star batsman Joe Root's ODI best 166 not out. 'I don't feel like we really deserved that win,' said Brook of Sunday's success at Sophia Gardens. 'Our fielding was a little bit sloppy. But because we are so tight as a group, we've managed to scrape a victory there. Obviously, having Joe Root in your side is always a big help.' Smith, who replaced Phil Salt as opener, averaged 17.63 after his first dozen ODI innings. But on Tuesday the batting skill that has helped make him a Test regular was evident. 'He's gone out there and and played extremely well, but he's not a slogger,' Brook said. 'He's playing proper shots, he's putting their bad balls away and he's putting them (the West Indies) under immense pressure.' The West Indies recovered from 28-3 and 154-7 to finish on 251-9 after arriving late to the Oval because of heavy London traffic . Adil Rashid was the pick of England's attack, with the veteran leg-spinner taking 3-40. 'Rash has got so much skill,' said Brook of his Yorkshire team-mate. 'He's a very wily bowler. He's he's been around the block for a while, and he keeps on getting better and better.' Attention now switches to T20s, with three games against West Indies starting in Durham on Friday and a World Cup in February. Agence France-Presse
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Dubai Eye
Stead stands down as New Zealand coach after seven years
Gary Stead will stand down as Black Caps coach at the end of June, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday, bringing to an end a highly successful seven-year reign that included the capture of the inaugural World Test Championship title. The 53-year-old stood down as coach of the country's white ball teams in April and his desire to spend less time on tour ultimately did not marry with NZC's aspiration to have one coach across all formats. "There's been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country," he said in a NZC statement. "It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won't fold." Stead said the World Test Championship triumph in 2021 and New Zealand's 3-0 sweep of India on the sub-continent last year were the highlights of his time in charge. New Zealand also finished as runners-up on boundary countback at the 2019 50-overs World Cup, runners-up at the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup as well as at the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The Black Caps topped the test and ODI rankings and reached the semi-finals at two other white-ball World Cups during his time in charge. "For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game," Stead added. Producing consistent performances over such a lengthy period rested in some part on Stead's ability to refresh the squad with young players as generational talents retired or spent lengthy periods on the sidelines with injury. Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson said Stead is likely to be remembered as one of New Zealand's most successful cricket coaches. "There was no one more hardworking and passionate about seeing the Black Caps grow and succeed," he said. "He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke." NZC have already started the search for the successor to the former top-order test batsman and Stead said he would take some time to recharge before seeking out another challenge. "I still have the coaching bug and will look to explore opportunities at home and abroad where I can look to share what I've learned from my 30 years of professional sport as a player and coach," he said.
Int'l Cricket Council
2 days ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Gary Stead to depart as New Zealand coach
The side also sat on top spot in the ODI rankings in his tenure, reaching the final of the Men's Champions Trophy 2025, Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 and the T20 World Cup 2021, among other semi-final appearances at global tournaments. An emotional Stead reflected on his time with great fondness. 'There's been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other and for the fans,' he said. 'Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson had left the team with strong values and a style of play, and I've just tried to build and shape that further to grow our ability to be consistent in everything we do. 'It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the BLACKCAPS are a team that won't fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete. 'To work alongside some of New Zealand's best cricketers and have had a ringside seat to every training and match has been very special and an absolute honour. 'For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game. 'I'd like to wish the new coach well and the team every success in the future."
