Kathmandu: The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers are getting underway in Kathmandu from today, with 10 nations competing for four places in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held jointly in England and Wales in June 2021.

The tournament features three Test-playing nations—Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe—along with seven associate teams, all aiming to secure qualification for the global event.

Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference with team captains on Saturday, Nepal women’s team captain Indu Verma said the home side is fully prepared and highly motivated to make the most of this historic opportunity.

“We have worked hard for this moment for the past 18 years,” Indu said. “All the players are ready, confident and excited to play in this tournament at home. We want to perform to the best of our ability.”

She expressed happiness at competing against strong international teams, noting that matches against Scotland and Ireland in the past have helped her team learn how to adapt and play in challenging situations. According to Indu, those experiences will be valuable in the qualifiers.

“Our preparation has been good and the confidence among players is growing,” she said, adding that success in cricket takes time and consistent effort. “We have been playing good cricket recently and we want to continue that form.”

Indu also said the tournament would inspire the next generation of Nepali women cricketers and thanked the ICC for giving Nepal the opportunity to host such a major international event.

Group Structure
Nepal has been placed in Group B, alongside the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Thailand and Scotland. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage. From there, the top four teams will earn qualification for the World Cup.

Nepal will open its campaign on Sunday against regional rivals Thailand.

Thailand captain Naruimol Chaiwai, recalling her team’s success in the Asia Qualifier previously held in Nepal, said past results would not influence the current tournament.

“We cannot always repeat the same performance,” she said. “We will forget past results and focus on playing good cricket.”

All participating teams expressed confidence and commitment to putting on strong performances, as Kathmandu hosts one of the most significant women’s cricket tournaments ever held in Nepal.