Former champion England ready to take on Asia alone

India and Sri Lanka also likely to progress to Super Six stage ahead of inexperienced Pakistan 

Two-time former champion England finds itself taking on all the Asian teams in pursuit of a place in the Super Six stage from Group B of next week’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2009to be staged from 7 to 22 March. 

England, winner in 1973 and 1993 on home turf, launches its latest campaign against Sri Lanka on the opening day of the tournament at Manuka Oval, Canberra. Two days later in the feature match of the group, Charlotte Edwards’s side meets 2005 World Cup beaten finalist India on 10 March before concluding the group stage of the tournament against Pakistan on 12 March. 

England’s matches against India and Pakistan will be played at North Sydney Oval and will be covered live by ICC’s official broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports. 

Traditional rivals India and Pakistan also get into action on the opening day of the tournament at Bradman Oval. Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan at Manuka Oval on 12 March and on the last day of the first round matches on 14 March, India will take on Sri Lanka at Bankstown Oval. 

If recent performances are anything to do with this group, then in all probability Pakistan will be the team that does not progress to the Super Six stage, which starts from 14 March, while the match between England and India could decide who tops the group. 

Pakistan won the right to compete against the elite when it reached the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier (ICC WWCQ) in Stellenbosch, South Africa last year where it lost to South Africa by eight wickets. On its way to the final, Pakistan surprised two top-10 ranked teams – ninth-placed Ireland by 57 runs and 10th-placed Netherlands by 94 runs in the semi-final. Urooj Mumtaz’s side also accounted for Scotland by 252 runs and Zimbabwe by nine wickets on way to the semi-final. 

But since the semi-final victory over the Netherlands in the semi-final at Stellenbosch, Pakistan’s performance has taken a nose-dive as it has lost all eight ODIs – one against South Africa (in the final of ICC WWQ), two against India (in Asia Cup) and five against Sri Lanka (two in Asia Cup and three in triangular series in Bangladesh) – with batting giving Mumtaz major headaches. 

So much so that with the exception of fast bowler Javeria Khan, the performances of other key players have dipped significantly. 

While Javeria has figures of 11-172 in the last seven ODIs, Sana Mir, who was player of the tournament in Stellenbosch along with the Netherlands’ Caroline de Fouw, has scored only 67 runs and has taken 5-265, captain Urooj Mumtaz has contributed 122 runs and has taken 12-268 and Sajid Shah, who is the only Pakistan bowler in the top 20 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings, has picked up 6-223. 

On paper, England looks to be a superior side to India but in reality, there is very little to choose between the two sides as both have enjoyed almost equal success against each other. The two teams have met 46 times with Charlotte Edwards’s side winning 24 matches and Jhulan Goswami’s side emerging winner on 20 occasions. 

However, England and India maintain a 100 per cent record against the other two teams in the group, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. 

In the most recent series between the two teams, England beat India 4-0 in a five-match series in England last September, a season which saw England win nine out of the 10 ODIs with the last match against India being washed-out. 

England is the most improved of the eight sides taking part in the World Cup, having the likes of Edwards, Clair Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Lydia Greenway, Caroline Atkins (all batters), Isa Guha, Holly Colvin, Katherine Brunt , Nicola Shaw (all bowlers) and all-rounder Jenny Gunn. All these players figure in the top 20 of batting and bowling listings of Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings. 

Edwards is not only an experienced captain who has led England in 43 ODIs, winning 24 of those match, she has also been an inspirational leader as she is the fourth most successful batter in women’s cricket after Belinda Clark (4,844 runs), Karen Rolton (4,495) and Debbie Hockley (4,064) with 3,520 runs. 

Edwards will be appearing in her fourth World Cup. In her debut World Cup in India where England lost to New Zealand by 20 runs in the semi-final, Edwards was her team’s leading run-getter with 365 runs at an average of 91.25 while in New Zealand in 2000, where England finished fifth, she scored 157 runs at an average of 52.33. In South Africa in 2005, where England lost to Australia by five wickets in the semi-final, she was the leading scorer with 280 runs at an average of 46.66. 

Another experienced campaigner in the England side is Claire Taylor who will be appearing in her third World Cup and has already played 102 ODIs. In her debut World Cup in New Zealand in 2000, Taylor, who is the sixth leading run-getter in women’s cricket with 3,287 runs, was England’s principle scorer with 267 runs at an average of 66.75 while in 2005 in South Africa, she was just behind Edwards with 265 runs. 

Apart from Edwards and Taylor, other survivors from the 2005 campaign include Brunt, Greenway, Guha, Gunn and Shaw. 

The event will also be a big test for Ebony-Jewl Rainford-Brent, the 25-year-old fast bowler, who is returning after a back injury. Brent made her debut at the age of 17 but last played for England in the home series against South Africa. 

India will be relying heavily on captain Jhulan Goswami, former captain Mithali Raj and veteran Anjum Chopra who will be appearing in her fourth World Cup. 

Goswami, who captained India on the tour to Australia late last year where India was blanked out 5-0, is most experienced current bowler with 105 ODI wickets in 93 ODIs. Goswami, ICC Women’s Player of the Year in 2007, was the third leading wicket-taker behind team-mates Neetu David (20 wickets) and Ajay Sharma (14) with 13 wickets in the 2005 World Cup. 

Raj is undoubtedly the mainstay of the India team as she was not only her team’s main run-getter in South Africa four years ago along with Chopra but is also the fifth most successful batter with 3,302 runs. While she scored 199 runs in South Africa, her contribution in the 2000 World Cup was 152 runs from three matches at an average of 76. 

Raj was also the leading run-getter for India in her side’s 4-0 series loss to England and 5-0 defeat to Australia last year. In England, Raj scored 231 runs at an average of 77 while in Australia, her contribution was 138 runs. 

Chopra had a below-par World Cup in 1997 when she could manage only eight runs from three matches. However, in New Zealand she was India’s best performer with 267 runs at an average of 38.14. In South Africa, she scored 180 runs. 

Besides these three, fast bowler and vice-captain Amita Sharma and all-rounder Rumeli Dhar will also be returning for their second World Cup. 

Sri Lanka will be appearing in the World Cup for the fourth time with 32-year-old Hiruka Fernando all set to become her country’s only player to figure in all the events. The left-handed batter is also her country’s most experienced player with 51 ODIs in which she has scored 929 runs, including an unbeaten 78 against South Africa in Pretoria in 2005 which earned her the player-of-the-match award. 

Hiruka and Rose Fernando will be one of the family stories of the tournament as the sisters hope to make an important contribution to the success of its team at the tournament. While Hiruka is171 runs short of becoming the first Sri Lankan woman to score 1,000 ODI runs, Rose is her country’s second most successful bowler behind captain Shashikala Siriwardena (44) with 42 wickets. 

Besides Hiruka, all-rounder Shamani Seneviratne and left-handed opener Dedunu de Silva will be appearing in their second World Cup. 

Sri Lanka has shown significant improvement of late in its batting. After averaging a dismal 116 runs while batting first and only 89 runs when chasing targets in 17 World Cup matches, it has gone up to 185 runs in the first innings and 155 runs in the second innings in the last 13 matches. 

The top four teams from the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 will automatically qualify for the 2013 event to be staged in India while the fifth and sixth-placed teams will earn direct spots in the 10-team ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2011 where they will be joined by eight other sides – two each from Africa, Asia and Europe, and one each from Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions – who will qualify from their own regional qualifying tournaments. 

Group B squads 

ENGLAND – Charlotte Edwards (captain), Caroline Atkins, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Lydia Greenway, Lauren Griffiths, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh, Beth Morgan, Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent, Nicola Shaw, Anya Shrubsole, Claire Taylor, Sarah Taylor. 

INDIA - Jhulan Goswami (captain), Amita Sharma (vice-captain), Anagha Deshpande, Anjum Chopra, Gouher Sultana, Harpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj, Poonam Raut, Priyanka Roy, Reema Malhotra, Rumeli Dhar, Snehal Pradhan, Sravanthi Naidu, Sulakshana Naik, Thirush Kamini. 

PAKISTAN – Urooj Mumtaz (captain), Sana Mir (vice-captain), Almas Akram, Asmavia Iqbal, Armaan Khan, Batool Fatima, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Nahida Khan, Naila Nazir, Qanita Jalil, Sajjida Shah, Sania Khan, Sukhan Faiz. 

SRI LANKA – Shashikala Siriwardena (captain), Chamani Seneviratne (vice-captain), Suwini de Alwis, Hiruka Fernando, Rose Fernando, Inoka Galagedara, Gayathri Kariyawasam, Eshani Lokusooriya, Dilani Manodara, Chamari Polgampola, Udeshika Prabodani, Deepika Rasangika, Dedunu de Silva, Sripali Weerakkody, Chandi Wickremasinghe. 

Group B fixtures: 

Sat 7 March – India v Pakistan, Bradman Oval; England v Sri Lanka, Manuka Oval 
Mon 9 March – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Manuka Oval 
Tues 10 March – India v England, North Sydney Oval 
Wed 12 March – England v Pakistan, North Sydney Oval; India v Sri Lanka, Bankstown Oval

ICC Media Release
Saturday, February 28, 2009 11:35:58 AM

ICC announces schedule of pre-event media activities

Next week, there will be a number of media opportunities in relation to the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 which takes place in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory from 7 to 22 March. 

The teams will start arriving in Sydney ahead of the welcome function, which takes place at the Sydney Opera House on 5 March, beginning at 1615. All accredited journalists, who will have collected their tournament passes by then, are invited to attend.

5 Mar – Welcome Function 

7 Mar – India v Pakistan, Bradman Oval 

8 Mar – West Indies v South Africa, Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground 

10 Mar – Australia v South Africa, Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground 

12 Mar – New Zealand v South Africa, Bradman Oval 

14 Mar – A2 v B2, Bankstown Oval 

17 Mar – A3 v B2, Drummoyne Oval 

19 Mar – A2 v B3, Drummoyne Oval 

21 Mar – Practice sessions in the lead-up to the final 

22 Mar – final, NSO 

23 Mar – Winning captain and player of the tournament with trophies, Sydney Harbour 


Ahead of the welcome function, all eight teams will be holding media conferences on 3 and 5 March at the Menzies Hotel, Sydney. All print, radio, television and internet journalists are invited to attend those media conferences upon production of the relevant identification. 

The arrival press conferences are expected to be attended by the captains, vice-captains, coaches and managers while each team is expected to put up four players for the open media sessions. 

The schedule of pre-event media activities are as follows: 


Tuesday 3 March 

0945 – Australia captain Karen Rolton’s news conference 

1015 – West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira news conference 

1030 – England captain Charlotte Edward’s news conference 

1100 – Australia team’s open media session 

1145 – West Indies team’s open media session 

1215 – England team’s open media session 


Thursday 5 March 

1000 – New Zealand captain Haidee Tiffen’s news conference 

1030 – South Africa captain Sunette Loubser news conference 

1100 – India captain Jhulan Goswami’s news conference 

1130 – Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Sriwardena news conference 

1145 – Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz’s news conference 

1215 – South Africa team’s open media session 

1215 – Sri Lanka team’s open media session 

1215 – Pakistan team’s open media session 

1300 – India team’s open media session 

1300 – New Zealand team’s open media session 


For interviews with players and team officials outside of these times, please contact the relevant team manager directly. Their tournament mobile phone numbers are: 


Australia +61 410 914 907 

England +61 414 197 234 

India +61 415 874 118 

New Zealand +61420 797 281 

Pakistan +61 404 236 349 

South Africa +61 414 282 620 

Sri Lanka +61 415 236 978 

West Indies +61 415 232 801 


Meanwhile, there will be a number of warm-up matches taking place across Sydney with all eight teams involved. A full schedule of warm-up matches is: 


Monday 2 March – West Indies v New South Wales (NSW), Old Kings; Australia v England, Village Green 

Tuesday 3 March – New Zealand v Pakistan, Manly; Sri Lanka v NWS, Old Kings; India v South Africa, Raby 1 

Wednesday 4 March – Australia v Sri Lanka, Manly; India v New Zealand, Old Kings; England v West Indies, Raby 1; Pakistan v South Africa, Green Village 


Brief round-up and full scorecards of these matches will be posted on the event website shortly after the close of play each day. 


When the proper tournament gets underway, there will be live ball-by-ball coverage on the event website. 

Much of the content on the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 website iccevents.yahoo.com will be available for use by broadcast and print outlets for free charge. In short, all reports, scorecards and audio interviews posted on the website can be lifted without any copyright issue. 

Please note that all seven matches taking place at North Sydney Oval during the tournament proper, including the final, will be televised live by ICC’s host broadcaster ESPN STAR Sport (ESS). At this venue, the usual ICC event protocols regarding non-rights-holding broadcasters will apply. On match days, non-rights-holders will only be permitted to film the post-match press conference. No other filming is allowed at the NSO on match days. 

At the other venues, non-rights-holding broadcasters may film up to 20 minutes of footage for no more than 90 seconds of air time. This is in line with existing news-access protocols. 

Journalists who have been accredited to the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 will by now have received official notification by the ICC. As previously advised, your pass will be waiting for you on the day of the open media sessions. Those arriving after 6 March can collect their passes from the Venue Media Manager of the venue nominated during the application process. 

Before you receive your media pass for the tournament, you will be required to sign a copy of ICC’s standard media terms and conditions.

ICC Media Advisory
Saturday, February 28, 2009 9:34:43 AM

South Africa and West Indies could be vying for last place in Super Six

Australia and New Zealand renew rivalry at North Sydney Oval in one of the seven matches to be covered by ESPN STAR Sports 

Karen Rolton needs 350 runs to become leading batter in women’s cricket 

Defending champion Australia and two-time former winner New Zealand start off as favourites to qualify for the Super Six stage of next week’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 from Group A which also includes West Indies and qualifier South Africa. 

Australia has won the tournament five times – 1978 and 1997 in India, 1982 in New Zealand, 1988 in Australia and 2005 in South Africa – while New Zealand lifted the trophy back in 2000. 

The West Indies, by virtue of finishing in the top six of the 2005 tournament, qualified directly for the Australian event while South Africa and Pakistan sealed their places by reaching the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Stellenbosch, South Africa, when the home team won by eight wickets. 

The top four teams from the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 will automatically qualify for the 2013 event to be staged in India while the fifth and sixth-placed teams will earn direct spots in the 10-team ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2011 where they will be joined by eight other sides – two each from Africa and Europe, and one each from Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions – who will qualify from their own regional qualifying tournaments. 

The Group A teams will be in action on the second day of the tournament on Sunday 8 March when Australia and New Zealand renew their rivalry and go head to head at North Sydney Oval in a match which, in all probability, will decide who tops the group. The match will also be the first of the seven matches which will be covered by ICC’s broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports. 

On the same day at Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle, West Indies faces South Africa with the winner likely to join Australia and New Zealand in the Super Six stage from the group. 

Head-to-head, Australia and New Zealand have met 97 times with the reigning world champion winning 69 matches and New Zealand returning winners 27 times with one ending in a no-result. 

If there is a current player who knows how a World Cup is won, it is Australia captain Karen Rolton who was a member of the Australia sides that won in 1997 and 2005. She was also part of the side which lost the 2000 World Cup final to New Zealand by four runs. 

In her debut World Cup in India, she scored 115 runs at an average of 57.50, before finishing as the lead run-getter in New Zealand in 2000 with 393 runs at an average of 131. In 2005 in South Africa, Rolton was declared player of the final for her 107 not out and also won the player-of-the-tournament award for scoring 246 runs and taking 10 wickets. 

Rolton now has a big milestone waiting for her around the corner. The 35-year-old South Australian requires 350 runs to leapfrog her former captain Belinda Clark (4,844 runs) to become the lead run-getter in women’s cricket. 

Had Rolton continued to take her bowling seriously, she would have long time back became the first women’s player to complete a double of 100 wickets and 1,000 or more runs. But the captain hasn’t turned her arm over in the last 31 ODIs which means she still sits on 85 wickets besides her 4,495 runs. 

Besides Rolton, Alex Blackwell, Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar are the other surviving members from the team that won its fifth World Cup in New Zealand four years ago. 

In the recent Rose Bowl Series, which ended in a 2-2 draw after the fifth match was abandoned due to rain, Nitschke led the series run scorers’ list with 144 runs, while fellow all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar was the leading wicket taker with seven. 

All-rounder Ellyse Perry is the youngest member of the Australia team at the age of 18 and is tipped to be one of the players to watch in the tournament despite a disappointing Rose Bowl Series by her high standards. The New South Wales all-rounder became the youngest Australia player ever when she made her debut in Darwin the 2007 Rose Bowl Series. 

The other two teenagers in the Australia side are fast bowler Delissa Kimmince and off-spinner Erin Osborne. 

New Zealand will be led by experienced Haidee Tiffen who was a member of Emily Drumm’s side that won its maiden title to date in 2000. In the four-run victory over Australia in the final at Lincoln four years ago, Haidee’s contribution was 14 with the bat and had bowling figures of 5-1-27-0 though she ended up scoring 187 runs and taking eight wickets in the tournament. 

Tiffen is 360 runs short of becoming the second New Zealander after Debbie Hockley and seventh in the world to score 3,000 or more runs. Tiffen sits on 2,640 and needs 204 runs to leapfrog former captain Emily Drumm (2,844) to become second most successful New Zealand batter. 

Vice-captain Amiee Mason, who replaced Drumm after the first two matches of the 2005 tournament, Nicola Browne and Sara McGlashan, besides Tiffen, are the other players who represented New Zealand in South Africa in 2005where it lost to India in the semi-final. 

Besides the experience of the quartet in the ranks, New Zealand has high hopes from left-hander batter Amy Satterthwaite and all-rounders Suzie Bates and Lucy Doolan who have performed well in the last few months, including the Rose Bowl Series against Australia. 

Since the 2005 World Cup, New Zealand has played in eight series, winning only two –against India (4-1) in March 2006 and against England in England (by 3-1) in August 2007. New Zealand’s losses were against Australia in the Rose Bowl Series in October 2006, July 2007 and March 2008, women’s quadrangular tournament in India in February 2007 and against England at home in March 2008. 

The West Indies is the fifth-ranked team in women’s cricket and includes five players – Debbie-Ann Lewis, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Cordel Jack and Kirbyina Alexander – who were part of the side that finished fifth in South Africa in 2005 with two wins and three defeats. 

Pamela Lavine was West Indies’ batting mainstay in New Zealand when she contributed 145 runs at an average of 48.33. The other player who left an impression four years ago was Juliana Nero who scored 197 runs at 49.25 but has pulled out of next month’s tournament due to a hamstring injury. 

After being without a match in 2006 and 2007, the West Indies beat the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (2-0) but lost to England (1-0) and Sri Lanka (3-2) in 2008. Overall, the West Indies has played 58 matches, winning 25 and losing 31 while in World Cups, it enjoys a 31.25 per cent success-rate. 

Like the West Indies, South Africa is also underprepared as it has played only 20 ODIs since the 2005 World Cup, including nine in 2008. 

South Africa has a new captain in Sunnette Loubser who has replaced Cri-Zelda Brits. The 26-year-old Loubser made her ODI debut against Pakistan in 2007 and has played in 14 ODIs in which she has taken 18 wickets. She has played in one Test against the Netherlands in Rotterdam in where she recorded match figures of 54.3-22-59-8 to play a major role in her side’s first-ever victory at the highest level. 

Brits along with vice-captain Alicia Smith, Susan Benade, Ashlyn Kilowan, Charlize van der Westuizen and Claire Terblanche were in the 2005 squad that finished in seventh place in New Zealand where Brits was the fourth leading run-getter with 206 runs while Smith was her team’s leading wicket-taker with nine. 

There is very little to choose between the West India and South Africa as both the sides have met four teams and have won two matches apiece. The only time when two met in a World Cup was on 24 March 2005 which went down to the wire before South Africa held its nerves to win by one-run 

On that day, South Africa batted first and collected 169 in 49 overs. In turn, the West Indies fell short by one run when it was bowled out for 168 with two balls to spare. The match was dominated by Cri-Zelda Brits who followed up her 120-ball 71 with figures of 9.4-1-37-4. 

The West Indies, however, avenged that defeat immediately after the World Cup when it defeated South Africa 2-1 in a three-match series played in Pretoria. 

Group A squads 

AUSTRALIA – Karen Rolton (captain), Alex Blackwell (vice-captain), Sarah Andrews, Jessica Cameron, Leonie Coleman, Lauren Ebsary, Rene Farrell, Jodie Fields, Delissa Kimmince, Shelley Nitschke, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Emma Sampson, Lisa Sthalekar. 

NEW ZEALAND – Haidee Tiffen (captain), Aimee Mason (vice-captain), Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne, Abby Burrows, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Beth McNeill, Katey Martin, Rachel Priest, Kate Pulford, Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Tsukigawa. 

SOUTH AFRICA - Sunette Loubser (captain), Alicia Smith (vice-captain), Susan Benade, Cri-Zelda Brits, Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shandre Fritz, Shabnim Ismail, Ashlyn Kilowan, Marcia Letsoalo, Charlize van der Westhuizen, Yolandi van der Westhuizen, Dane van Niekerk, Claire Terblanche, Marizanne Kapp. 

WEST INDIES – Merissa Aguilleira (captain), Kirbyina Alexander (vice-captain), Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Geneille Greaves, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Debbie-Ann Lewis, Shakera Selman, Danielle Small, Charlene Taitt, Stefanie Taylor. 

Group A fixtures: 

Sun 8 March – Australia v New Zealand, North Sydney Oval; South Africa v West Indies, Newcastle No 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle 

Tues 10 March – Australia v South Africa, Newcastle No 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle; New Zealand v West Indies, Bankstown Oval 

Thurs 12 March – Australia v West Indies, Drummoyne Oval, New Zealand v South Africa, Bowral

ICC Media Release
Friday, February 27, 2009 12:36:46 PM

Former and current men's captains get behind their teams

Gavaskar advises India to believe in itself and take heart from men’s team’s win in 1983 

Akram says Pakistan girls deserve to compete against the best; Ranatunga confident Sri Lanka capable of causing a few surprises 

Hunger and drive necessary to be the absolute best, reminds Vettori; Strauss says England should be proud of its recent record 

Former and current captains of the men’s teams have sent their respective national cricket teams good-luck messages ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 which gets underway in Australia next week. 

Eight teams – holder Australia, India, England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan – will go head to head from 7 March in a 16-day tournament during which 25 matches will be played. 

ESPN STAR Sports, ICC’s official broadcaster, will broadcast all seven matches that will take place at North Sydney Oval, including the final. This will ensure that the event will be the most widely viewed yet, with the coverage to be aired in more than 100 countries. 

Indian great Sunil Gavaskar, one of the ICC Hall of Famers, said the India team should take heart from the 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup triumph and continue to believe in itself. “The Indian team was good enough to get to the finals of the last World Cup, so it should believe in itself and play freely. It is a team with a combination of youth and experience and that is always a great way to begin a campaign. 

“The team was lucky that it was practised at the National Cricket Academy and the players were able to interact with the likes of VVS Laxman and RP Singh which would have given them a lot of confidence. 

“This is the silver jubilee year of India’s triumph in the 1983 World Cup and if the women’s team can take heart from that effort and keep fighting till the last ball is bowled, who knows, it may be able to do what we did 25 years ago.” 

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who was player of the final of the 1992 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against England, said Pakistan’s participation in the premier competition was evidence that the country’s girls had the talent to compete against the best. “It is great to know that Pakistan women’s cricket team has qualified for the World Cup. It clearly proves that the team has the talent that is required to line up with the best in women’s cricket. 

“I want to see the Pakistan team go out there and give its best. It has nothing to lose as it is not amongst the top-ranked teams. This should lessen the pressure on the players and when you have nothing to lose and nothing to fear, you tend to give up your best,” said Akram who took 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets during his career. 

Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to World Cup glory in Lahore in 1996, advised his team to go match by match as the event was not about big names. “The World Cup is not about big names but about how you perform in the big arena. 

“Sri Lanka needs to take each game at a time and go stage by stage. Its first target should be to qualify for the Super Six stage. The players need to trust their talent, ability, prowess and need to believe that they are good enough to win the ICC Women’s World Cup,” said Ranatunga, a veteran of 93 Tests and 269 ODIs. 

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said Haidee Tiffen’s side was strong and had some good performers. “The New Zealand side looks to be one of the most experienced we’ve had in a while and there is some world-class talent in there with hitters like Suzie Bates, all-rounder Nicola Browne and bowlers like Sophie Devine. 

“In a World Cup it’s all about performance on the day so there’s got to be a hunger and a drive to be the absolute best you can be. 

“We cheered them when they played the curtain- raiser to our Twenty20 International against Australia and will be sending messages of support to the team throughout the World Cup and keeping in contact with them as much as possible.” 

England captain Andrew Strauss said Charlotte Edwards’ team should be proud of its recent record which will give it the confidence to do well in Australia. “The England women’s team can be really proud of its record over the last few years and beating Australia at home and away was a terrific achievement. The team has plenty of talented young players coming through the system too which bodes well for the future. 

“We always take an interest in how the women’s team is doing and it was great to see Charlotte Edwards winning the ICC Women’s Player of the Year award in Dubai last year. 

“It’s an important year for the women’s team. With three major competitions coming up, it gives them a great opportunity to get more exposure for women’s cricket and hopefully it will help encourage more women and girls in this country to take up the sport.”

ICC Media Release
Thursday, February 26, 2009 5:35:20 PM

The Impact of Pat Tillman Continues Today

Deciding to make a difference, Rory Fanning travels foot by foot to make sure people don't forget about Pat Tillman. Setting out from Virginia Beach, Va. a few months ago, Fanning is walking nearly 3,000 miles to the California Coast in hopes of raising 3.6 million dollars for the Pat Tillman Foundation. That equates to the value of the NFL contract Tillman gave up to follow his heart into the Army. "There is a big hole in people's hearts as a result of the way things ended (for Pat) and they are happy that people like me are keeping his memory alive." 
 
Like Tillman, Fanning, 31, joined the Army following the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington on 9/11. Both served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. For six months prior to his death, Fanning worked along side Tillman. Pat's character and integrity quickly made an impact on him. 
 
Fanning described himself like every other Ranger headed for the bars. On one such occasion, he came across Pat and his brother exchanging papers in a coffee shop, "Each of them had written a 7-page paper on a topic I don't remember now. They grew up without TV as kids, so for fun they wrote papers and exchanged them on any topic you can imagine for fun on a Friday night." 
 
"Conversations with him were deep and full," notes Fanning. "When I talked to him about a topic he's read and knew more about than I did, he stopped what he was doing, he focused on what I had to say, and he wasn't trying to interrupt me. Leadership is not about having a million dollar smile and telling people what they want to hear. It's listening and leading by example." 
 
Tillman's legacy of impact stretches beyond Fanning to Jen Welter, an All-Pro Linebacker for the Dallas Diamonds women's professional football team. Welter met up with Fanning as he made his way through the metroplex. As they walked, Fanning shared Tillman's passion for service and impact. Inspired by what she heard, Welter decided to make a change in her own, "Fanning is giving of himself to honor Pat. And, in my own small way, I hope by wearing #40, Pat's number, I can help Fanning's goal of impacting people through selfless leadership." 
 
Welter has worn #47 since she started playing football 8 years ago. After hearing more about Tillman and some similarities in their statue and playing ability, Welter decided she would let go of her own ego attachment to #47 and begin wearing #40 to honor the cause of leadership through serving. 
 
As the two walked, Welter also learned of the challenges facing Fanning as he moves across the country. While he carries essentials in his 25 pound backpack, finding a place to shower, shave, and change proves difficult. The Diamonds Linebacker who trains for Snap Fitness reached into her own bag and pulled out a keycard for Fanning, "I was struck by the realization of the simple things many of us take for granted like a warm shower. We talked about possible solutions. I gave him my 24-7 access keycard to clubs across America. So, I took action and later asked for forgiveness. Thankfully, they were very supportive and have come on board as a partner," notes Welter. 
Encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone, Fanning is asking people to use their freedom to pursue a cause beyond self. "That's what Pat did," said Fanning. The Pat Tillman Foundation ensures Tillman's legacy of leadership and civic action in younger generations through specific programs and scholarships. 
 
Fanning now makes his way to Lubbock, Texas where he will speak to young people at Texas Tech University. "I truly hope other people will hear of Rory's example of selfless leadership and support him by either walking with him, buying him a meal, giving him a roof to sleep under, and/ or making a donation," says Welter. "He is a refreshing person who literally is trying to make a positive impact, one step at a time." 
 
Anne 'Kip' Watson
February 10, 2009

Nighthawks lend support at the 18th Annual Chocolate Affair

Athletes and management staff from The Baltimore Nighthawks spent a recent evening volunteering their time at The 18th Annual Chocolate Affair. The event is the largest annual charity event in Baltimore. Proceeds benefit Health Care for the Homeless (HCH), a local non profit organization that works to reduce poverty, hunger, and homelessness throughout the state.
Having outgrown an array of venues throughout Baltimore, The 18th Annual Chocolate Affair took place in the South Club-Level Lounge of Ravens' Stadium. Joining the Nighthawks in support of this fantastic event were Baltimore Ravens Tight End Daniel Wilcox and Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
The Nighthawks would like to encourage everyone to reach out to organizations like HCH and support them by volunteering time and when possible donating generously. 
 
About The Chocolate Affair
Celebrating its 18th birthday, The Chocolate Affair began as the brainchild of local community leaders concerned with poverty, hunger, and homelessness in Baltimore. 
Founding members included the former President and CEO of Health Care for the Homeless, Jackie Gaines, and two currently serving members of The Chocolate Affair Event Planning Committee, Debra Attman and Pam Malester. The event initially benefited Action for the Homeless, which later merged to form the Center for Poverty Solutions. When the Center closed in 2005, event organizers partnered with Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) to keep the event alive and further HCH’s important work to reduce poverty, hunger, and homelessness throughout the state.

 IWFL
February 10, 2009

Nighthawks Announce Pink Ribbon Bowl

Baltimore, Maryland – The Baltimore Nighthawks are pleased to announce the first annual Pink Ribbon Bowl will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Lumsden -Scott Stadium.
 
The Baltimore Nighthawks and DC Divas will meet in this pre-season football game to raise awareness about breast cancer, hunger and women's tackle football.  
 
One dollar from every ticket will benefit the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. All ticket holders are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be given to Bea Gaddy Family Center in exchange for a raffle ticket. One lucky fan will have the opportunity to participate in a $10,000 football toss at half-time.

 IWFL
February 18, 2009

West Indies sets one eye on Super Six stage and other on the future

Captain Aguilleira hopes her team will play to its strength and avoid complacency 

The West Indies prepares for next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 with one eye on the Super Six stage and the other on the 2013 tournament to be staged in India. 

The women from the Caribbean are short on experience, match practice and international exposure after having played only 17 ODIs since the 2005 World Cup in South Africa, including three immediately after the tournament and 14 last year. In 2006 and 2007, the West Indies did not play a single match. 

Captain Merissa Aguilleira, commenting on her team’s shortcomings, said: “We have had some tough times with the bat but I believe we are getting things in place. What we have to make sure is we are in the right mindset and know how we deal with pressure situations. We want to put our best foot forward. 

“We have a very young team so we will be building for the future as well. The main events this year will present wonderful opportunities to plan for 2013 when we would come back knowing more and putting the systems in place.” 

The average age of the side is just 23.66 and includes four teenagers with the youngest member being hard-hitting batter Deandra Dottin from Barbados who will celebrate her 18th birthday on 21 June. Right-handed batter Pamela Lavine is the oldest member of the team and will celebrate her 40th birthday on 12 March, the day the West Indies plays defending champion Australia at Drummoyne Oval. 

At 23, Aguilleira herself is the youngest captain in the tournament, beating Pakistan’s Urooj Mumtaz by just 74 days. She has represented the West Indies in eight matches and took over the reins of the team after the retirement of Nadine George who hung up her boots after the tour to Sri Lanka where the home team won 3-2. 

“We had a good camp in Barbados at the end of January before we dispersed but continued the hard work individually. Once we get to Australia, we will have more training sessions as well as warm-up matches. We will be playing as a team, keeping our focus and aiming to do the West Indian people proud,” she added. 

The West Indies, which finished fifth in 2005, is pooled with defending champion Australia, former champion New Zealand and South Africa in Group A while Group B is made up of India, two-time winner England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. 

The West Indies opens its campaign against South Africa at Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground in a match which Aguilleira says is crucial to her team’s chances. 

“The first match of any tournament is always very important and this will be no different. It is vitally important to our chances and we are looking forward to this game very anxiously,” she said. 

“We have been preparing for this match while we have waited years for this tournament. We want to start on a winning note, go out there and do it in the first match, and try to make a statement. 

“Our strengths are our bowling and fielding. We have some excellent spinners who can win matches for us. Our batting is on the up and we must keep improving to put up good scores for the bowlers to defend. 

“In Sri Lanka, we learned what complacency can do as we lost the series after leading it at one stage. 

“We are definitely looking to reach the Super Six stage and take it from there. But we all know it will be tough going,” said Aguilleira. 

The West Indies includes five players – Debbie-Ann Lewis, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Cordel Jack and Kirbyina Alexander – who were part of the side that finished fifth in South Africa in 2005 with two wins and three defeats, including a one-run defeat against South Africa at Pretoria. 

“Some of the players from the last World Cup are still in the team. We will be depending on them to offer experience and leadership. 

“We will be positive from start to finish and you are well aware, a match is only finished when that last ball is bowled,” she said. 

Aguilleira picked teenagers Stefanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and 21-year-old vice-captain Kirbyina Alexander as the players to watch. “Stefanie is a young and talented opener. She knows what she wants and is always willing to learn. 

“Deandra is another excellent young batter with awesome power and the ability to hit the ball very far while Kirbyina, our vice-captain, is mentally very strong, never gives up, she always tries to push herself to the top and is a real team player.” 

Taylor has scored 276 runs in 10 ODIs besides taking nine wickets while Dottin has scored 240 runs in 12 matches. Fast bowler Alexander has bagged 12 wickets from as many matches and her best bowling figures of 10-6-6-3 was in the match in which the Netherlands was bowled out for 22 at Sportpark Het Schootsveld, Deventer last July. 

“I feel very excited. I will be playing in the ICC Women’s World Cup for the first time, representing my people and playing against some of the best players in the world. 

“It is an honour to be the captain of the West Indies cricket team and leading the team to such a prestigious event. At the moment I am fully focussed on doing the job and I am looking to giving my all,” she said. 

WEST INDIES – Merissa Aguilleira (captain), Kirbyina Alexander (vice-captain), Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Geneille Greaves, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Debbie-Ann Lewis, Shakera Selman, Danielle Small, Charlene Taitt, Stefanie Taylor.

ICC Media Release
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:03:46 AM

Celebrities appointed as honorary team Ambassadors for ICC Women's World Cup 2009

Radio personalities Adam Spencer and Jaslyn Hall, singer Kamahl, restaurateur Ajoy Joshi and SBS news presenters Anton Enus and Janice Petersen are lending their support to the ICC Women’s World Cup as Honorary Team Ambassadors. 

The ICC Women's World Cup Australia 2009 commences on Saturday 7 March and brings together the world’s top eight ranked women’s cricket teams - Australia, India, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan. 

The tournament will see 25 matches played across North Sydney Oval, Bankstown Oval, Drummoyne Oval, Newcastle Sportsground 1, Manuka Oval in Canberra and Bradman Oval in Bowral. 

As international teams arrive in Sydney from Wednesday 25 February through to Monday 2 March, each Honorary Ambassador will encourage their local community to show support for their national team as they compete on Australian soil. 

ABC radio personality and sports enthusiast Adam Spencer is a well known supporter of women’s sport and is a cricket tragic. 

"As coach of the University of Sydney women’s all age second grade football team, I know the positive impact sport can have on the local community and I’m proud to support the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars as they strive to retain the World Cup title," said Spencer. 

"These girls have top class skills and deserve our support at the grounds." 

Born to Sri Lankan parents, Kamahl is proud to be an honorary ambassador and inspire the Sri Lankan community to take part in the tournament. He is a lifelong cricket fan who had a friendship with Sir Donald Bradman and released the single ‘I Was A Mate Of Don Bradman’. 

“I’m of course honoured to be the Sri Lanka team ambassador and I’m looking forward to seeing some wonderful cricket played in this tournament, especially when Australia meets Sri Lanka so I can support both teams and be pleased no matter the result,” said Kamahl. 

Celebrity chef Ajoy Joshi, whose restaurant Nilgiri’s is synonymous with great Indian cuisine, is keen to host the Indian team for a meal ahead of the tournament. 

“I am passionate about cricket and encourage everyone to get along to a match or two for great quality cricket at our local ovals,” said Joshi. 

SBS news presenters Anton Enus and Janice Petersen, both of whom have South African heritage, are united in their hope to see South Africa reach the finals. 

Former Triple J presenter Jaslyn Hall, who is a native of Barbados, will be at the airport on Wednesday morning to help welcome the West Indies team as they arrive. 

“It is with great pleasure that we will welcome the West Indian team to Australia for this world class event,” said Hall. 

“They are amongst our finest athletes and we wish them well. 

“Due to Sydney’s passionate West Indian ex-pat community, the team should receive fantastic support - they will certainly be amongst friends.” 

Don’t miss the opportunity to come and support your national team in what will be a fun, affordable day out for the whole family. 

Match tickets start at just $5 and a $35 Tournament Pass will get you into every match.

ICC News
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 4:35:54 PM

Pakistan captain says her team has nothing to lose and everything to gain

Young and inexperienced but ambitious, the Pakistan team is taking inspiration from its performance in Stellenbosch, South Africa, 12 months ago as it prepares to go head to head with the best in next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 in Australia. 

Last February in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier, Pakistan put up series of strong performances to spring a surprise on eighth-ranked Ireland by 57 runs, Scotland by 252 runs and Zimbabwe by 94 runs before upsetting 10th-ranked Netherlands in the semi-final by 94 runs which won it a place in the main round for just the second time in its history. 

“We can take a lot of heart from our performance in South Africa where not many people gave us any chance. But we showed we were second best in that group and won the right to play against the best,” said Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz. 

“There are a lot of expectations on us in the World Cup but we have to be realistic. And the reality is we are the eighth-ranked team in the world, we are short of international experience and exposure, and we’ll be competing against teams who we have either never beaten or never played. 

“It leaves us with the task of scaling a mountain. But if we can turn the tables in Stellenbosch, I have no reasons why we can’t do again in Australia. It needs the same passion, dedication and commitment, and I am happy to say we are not short of those qualities. 

“The bottom line is we have got nothing to lose and everything to gain from the World Cup. We will give our best shot, try to learn and achieve as much as we can so that it could help us become a better team for future tournaments and series. The learning process has to continue. 

“We have short and long-term plans in place and no matter what anybody thinks, we know we are heading in the right direction. The players are gaining experience and learning with every match what it requires to excel at the highest level,” said the veteran of 30 ODIs. 

“Our objective in the World Cup is to improve our current eighth-ranking. We have never beaten Sri Lanka but we sense an opportunity against them as we feel we are not too far behind them. If a couple of our players fire on that day, we could end our win drought against them. 

“A victory against Sri Lanka will ensure we improve our ranking, it will enhance our chances of a place in the Super Six stage which would be a massive boost to the team and women’s cricket in Pakistan,” said Urooj. 

If Pakistan finishes at the bottom on Group B, it will still have a chance to achieve its objective when it will play the bottom-placed team from Group A in the seventh and eighth-position play-off match at North Sydney Oval No. 2 on Saturday 14 March. 

Urooj said it was a lifetime opportunity for her team to play in the World Cup. “Many of us never thought we would ever get this far. But now that we are here, we want to stay. 

“We are taking it as a massive opportunity to learn what it feels to play at the highest level and what it requires to consistently perform at that stage. With ESPN STAR Sports covering the matches at North Sydney Oval, we have, at least, one opportunity (against England on 12 March) to give a good account of ourselves on a global stage and let the world know that women’s cricket in Pakistan has come of age and is on the rise. 

“Our opening match is against India and though many think it will be a match between arch-rivals, frankly speaking there is nothing like this in women’s cricket. We have played quite a few times against each other but those were just games of cricket. We respect India because of what it has achieved in women’s cricket. 

“When we play our opening match, we will try to forget it’s a World Cup match because that thought can unsettle you, make you nervous and prevent you from giving your best. I don’t think cricket is a difficult game if you stick to basics. 

“I think the word ‘ICC’ makes this event prestigious and I feel honoured and privileged to not only wear the green blazer but to also lead my country at the highest level which is a dream for any sportsperson. 

“My team is not different. It is also looking forward to the tournament and is keen to make the nation proud. It is a tough task but not impossible,” said Urooj. 

Pakistan will play two warm-up matches in the lead up to the World Cup. It plays New Zealand at Manly on Tuesday 3 March and South Africa at Village Green on Wednesday 4 March. 

PAKISTAN – Urooj Mumtaz (captain), Sana Mir (vice-captain), Almas Akram, Asmavia Iqbal, Armaan Khan, Batool Fatima, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Nahida Khan, Naila Nazir, Qanita Jalil, Sajida Shah, Sania Khan, Sukhan Faiz.

ICC Media Release
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:22:19 PM