Mumbai: Star India all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the 15-member India squad at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with Bengal’s rookie batswoman Richa Ghosh being the only new face in the team. The Women in Blue will kick-off their campaign February 21 at the showpiece event against hosts Australia in Sydney.
Meanwhile, after some back-to-back consistent show, young batting sensation Shafali Verma will also be a part of the India squad which will also mark her first appearance in an ICC event.
India are placed in Group A along with hosts Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while Group B comprises England, South Africa, the West Indies, Pakistan and Thailand.
The Hemlata Kala-lead all India women’s selection committee also announced a 16-member squad for a tri-series in Australia prior to the T20 World Cup. Nuzhat Parveen has been included in the squad as the 16th member for the series which will feature England beside India and Australia.
India will take on England in the tri-series opener Manuka Oval in Canberra January 31 with the final to be played February 12 in Melbourne.
World T20 squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodriguez, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Richa Ghosh, Tania Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy.
IANS