Top three teams to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh. Final two days of the tournament to be streamed live at www.icc-cricket.com

The International Cricket Council today announced a revised schedule for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier, to be staged in Dublin, Ireland from 23-31 July. The event will now see three teams advancing to the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh.

The eight-team tournament is the final step in a global qualification pathway to the ICC World Twenty20 2014. Following an ICC Board decision during the ICC annual conference week in London in June, three teams from the Ireland event will progress to Bangladesh instead of one.

As a result, it is not just the tournament winner, but also the runner-up and the winner of the third-fourth place play-off that will progress to the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014.

To reflect the changed qualification structure, the tournament schedule has also been amended, with the primary change being the replacement of the Super Four stage with two semi-finals.

The three qualifying teams will join Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies in the 2014 tournament, which will be staged from 16 March to 6 April 2014. The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2014 will now be a 10-team tournament, and will again be held alongside the men’s event.
The teams participating in the Dublin tournament are Canada, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Zimbabwe.

The decision to expand the qualification process for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 is part of the continued promotion and support of women’s cricket, with the recently announced event cycle including four ICC World Twenty20 events and two World Cups between 2015 and 2023.

The ICC will stream live the final two days of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013, including the final, the 3rd v 4th place play-off and the semi-finals free of charge at www.icc-cricket.com. This is the first time that women’s qualification matches will be broadcast by the ICC to a global audience, marking another important step in the growth of women’s cricket globally.

Tournament schedule

Groups

Group A – Pakistan (1), Netherlands (4), Thailand (5), Zimbabwe (8)
Group B – Sri Lanka (2), Ireland (3), Canada (6), Japan (7)

Group stage

Tuesday, 23 July
Ireland v Japan (am), The Hills
Netherlands v Zimbabwe (am), YMCA
Sri Lanka v Canada (pm), The Hills
Pakistan v Thailand (pm), YMCA

Thursday, 25 July
Thailand v Netherlands (am), The Hills
Canada v Ireland (am), Merrion
Zimbabwe v Pakistan (pm), The Hills
Japan v Sri Lanka (pm) Merrion

Saturday, 27 July
Thailand v Zimbabwe (am) The Hills
Pakistan v Netherlands (am), Merrion
Japan v Canada (pm), The Hills
Ireland v Sri Lanka, (pm), Merrion

Semi-finals

Monday, 29 July
Trophy semi-final 1: A1 v B2 (am), YMCA (broadcast match)
Trophy semi-final 2: A2 v B1 (pm), YMCA (broadcast match)
Shield semi-final 1: A3 v B4 (am), Malahide
Shield semi-final 1: A4 v B# (pm), Malahide

Finals

Wednesday, 31 July

Trophy final (am), YMCA – both finalists progress to the ICC World Twenty20 2014 (broadcast match)
Trophy 3rd v 4th play-off (pm), YMCA – the winner progresses to the ICC World Twenty20 2014 (broadcast match)

Shield final (am), Merrion
Shield 7th v 8th play-off (pm), Merrion

All morning matches (am) begin at 1000 while afternoon fixtures (pm) start at 1400 Ireland time.

ICC
Ireland Women will be looking for one of three qualifying spots.
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