Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and a country from the West
Indies join England in qualifying for Birmingham 2022; Qualifier to determine final
participant
Cricket is the first discipline to announce qualifying teams for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth
Games as the sport makes a landmark re-entry to the prestigious multi-sport event scheduled from 28
July to 8 August next year.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) made the
announcement on Monday as women’s cricket features in the Games for the first time in 22 editions and
cricket for only the second time ever, the first occasion being a men’s ODI competition in Kuala Lumpur
in 1998, which was won by South Africa.
The six qualifiers who join home team England in the eight-team Twenty20 competition are Australia,
India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and a country from the West Indies. They have secured
qualification as a result of their standings in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings on 1
April 2021.
As per the qualification process, the winner of a designated Qualifying event will determine which country
from the Caribbean region gets to participate as athletes will be representing their individual countries
and not the West Indies as they would at ICC events.
The last participating team will be decided through a Qualifying tournament to be held by 31 January
2022, details of which will be announced in due course.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories
compete across 11 spectacular days of sport. Birmingham 2022 will be the first major multi-sport event
in history to award more medals to women than men.
The Commonwealth Games cricket tournament will take place at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium, with
tickets set to go on sale later this year.
ICC Acting Chief Executive Geoff Allardice: “We are incredibly proud and excited to be part of
Birmingham 2022 and it is a fantastic opportunity for us to continue to grow the women’s game globally.
“We are committed to maintaining the momentum that saw 86,174 fans packed into the Melbourne
Cricket Ground for the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup last year and Birmingham 2022 gives
us another global stage on which to showcase the women’s game.
“On behalf of the ICC and its Members, I thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for their support
and look forward to seeing some superb cricket at Edgbaston.”
Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin: “It is an exciting milestone to be
announcing the first teams to qualify for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Cricket is a sport
that is synonymous with the Commonwealth and we are so excited to have it back in the Games for the
first time since the men’s competition at Kuala Lumpur 1998.
“The debut of women’s T20 cricket will be an historic moment for Commonwealth Sport and a wonderful
showcase for women’s sport across the world. Congratulations to the teams that have now booked their
spot to compete at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium for what I am certain will be an unforgettable
tournament.”
England captain Heather Knight: “We’re really excited about hosting the Commonwealth Games in
2022 and it offers a big opportunity for women’s cricket, both in England and Wales and around the world.
“With direct entry into the competition confirmed, we’re one step closer to being on the pitch in
Birmingham, and the prospect of potentially winning a medal is something that will be at the back of our
minds across the next 12 months.
“It’s going to be a fantastic competition, a real chance to showcase the women’s game to a huge audience
and it’s one we’re thrilled to be taking part in.”
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: “It’s great to be confirmed a place in the Commonwealth Games.
We are raring to go, confident of doing well after having made the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World
Cup in Australia last year.
“It is an awesome opportunity for both the women’s game and cricket to make a mark at the prestigious
multi-discipline Games and we hope to return with loads of good memories.”
South Africa captain Sune Luus: “Participating in the Commonwealth Games will be an awesome
experience for the teams and a tremendous opportunity to take cricket to new audiences.
“We have been constantly improving as a side and will go into the event hoping to emulate our men’s
team, which won gold the only previous time cricket featured in the Games.”