2020 is an important year for Thailand cricket, as Thailand will be making their Cricket World Cup debut in a few weeks. ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which will begin on February 21st, 2020 in Australia will see Thailand play against some top nations. Thailand women’s cricket team player Natthakan Chantam talked about her plans and preparations for the World Cup and her excitement about playing against one of her favorite player Danielle Wyatt.
Thailand are part of Group B in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020. The group also includes England, West Indies, South Africa, and Pakistan.
Thailand created a buzz in the cricketing world in August-September 2019 when they became the runners-up in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament held in Scotland. Bangladesh had won that competition. It was the first time in the history of Thailand sports that a team had qualified for the World Cup event.
Thailand women team’s opener and pacer Natthakan Chantam is known for her aggressive batting, quick fielding and also for the not-out match-winning inning of 82 runs against India A.
Natthakan Chantam studies the game closely and models her game on England’s star all-rounder, Danielle Wyatt. Chantam expressed her excitement about playing against the England team, especially Wyatt.
“In the powerplay, all the fielders are up and everywhere there is a big gap for me to hit a boundary,” she said speaking to ICC.
“It’s a chance to score runs quickly. My mentality is to look to hit four runs through the gaps.
“My plan is different to [Naruemol] Chaiwai’s. I only try to hit along the ground and get her on strike when I can. She can be very dangerous.
“My favorite player to watch is Wyatt and I can’t wait to watch her play against us. I like how aggressive and confident she is at the crease.”
Thailand women’s cricket team’s Head Coach Harshal Pathak also sounded very confident about the team and said that they can definitely win at least one match in the mega tournament.
“Of course, we can win a game at this tournament,” Harshal Pathak said speaking to the ICC.
“We have come to Australia to look to win some games. We have to do the little things correctly, and the results will come.
“We are basically here to compete. And when you’re competing, the game teaches you some lessons.
“We are looking to learn from those and get better.”
Another important player to watch in the tournament will be Thailand’s right-arm seamer Chanida Sutthiruang, who won the ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2019. She had taken 12 wickets for just 68 runs in the 2019 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier.
As per the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Schedule, Thailand will play their first game against West Indies on February 22, 2020, Sat. Then they will play against England on February 26, against South Africa on February 28, and against Pakistan on March 3.
Sources:
© ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2018
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