Dubai: Pakistan’s star batter Javeria Khan has been named to lead a multi-nation Women’s Global Development Squad (WGDS) that will play six T20 matches on a tour of England.
The team will play two games each against ECB Super League teams Southern Vipers and Surrey Stars.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the third WGDS squad as part of its continued efforts to provide exposure to players from outside the leading countries and improve the standard of the women’s game. The WGDS tour of England is being organised in association with the ECB. The two previous WGDS programmes were held in Australia (November 2018) and England (July 2018).
Scotland boasts the most number of players with leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood, medium-pace bowler Hannah Rainey and batter Becky Glen picked in the squad. Bangladesh fast bowling all-rounder Jahanara Alam and top-order batter Fargana Hoque and Papua New Guinea wicketkeeper Brenda Tau and all-rounder Ravini Oa have two players each in the team while Germany’s left-handed all-rounder Christina Gough, Ireland’s leg-spinner Celeste Raack, Dutch top-order bat Denise van Deventer and USA batter Sugetha Chandhrasekar complete the line-up.
These promising players, who have all turned out for their national teams, will get to play the likes of New Zealand star batter Suzie Bates and West Indies all-rounder Stafanie Taylor of Southern Vipers while Surrey Stars boast a line-up including the South Africa trio of Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk and Lizelle Lee.
Javeria feels the players in her team will learn a lot during their packed schedule and is hoping to pass on her knowledge to them.
“I find it a real honour to be selected as the captain of the Women’s Global Development Squad. It has always been my desire to experience such opportunities and I am sure this new and exciting opportunity will pave the way for a lot of learning which will help me further improve my game. I aim to pass on my experience to the members of my squad while at the same time I would look at improving my own game in terms of both the mental side and skillset,” Javeria said.
“I am looking forward to enjoying and experiencing companionship with players from different nationalities who are gathering for the event. This program will not only acquaint me with their culture but also with their approach towards the game. I would also be keen on sharing my knowledge of the game that I have acquired by representing my country around the world at some of the biggest stages of women’s cricket,” she added.
The WGDS squad: Javeria Khan (Pakistan, captain), Jahanara Alam, Fargana Hoque (both Bangladesh), Christina Gough (Germany), Celeste Raack (Ireland), Denise van Deventer (Netherlands), Brenda Tau, Ravini Oa (both PNG), Abtaha Maqsood, Hannah Rainey, Becky Glen (all Scotland), Sugetha Kalyanaraman Chandhrasekar (USA).
Coach: Michael Ndiko (Uganda); Mentor coach: Laura Macleod (England).