Ireland and Netherlands women's cricket teams arrive

Tuesday, 19 April 2011 00:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Netherlands and Ireland Women’s teams have arrived in Sri Lanka for Sri Lanka on a two-week tour in partnership with the Pepsi International Cricket Council (ICC) European Development Programme.

Replacing an ICC European Women’s Academy is a five-day coaching programme from 18th to 22nd April and then a quadrangular series also involving Sri Lanka and Pakistan from 23rd to 29th April.

The tour comes as part of the two sides’ preparation for the 2013 World Cup qualifier.

“For Women’s cricket in Europe this is the biggest event that has ever taken place,” Richard Holdsworth, ICC Regional development Manager said.

“It will be a fantastic opportunity for all the players and management to compete against full member nations and sample Asian conditions in preparation for the end of the year.

“The development of women’s cricket in Europe is improving each year, with healthy participation figures, this series is just evidence of what can be achieved with a lot of hard work.”

Both Ireland and the Netherlands will play thre One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals in Sri Lanka.

Ireland squad: Ciara Metcalfe, Clare Shillington, Amy Kenealy, Eimear Richardson, Rebecca Rolfe, Laura Delany, Shauna Kavanagh, Louise McCarthy, Kimberley Garth, Mary Waldron, Emma Flanagan, Laura Cullen, Aisling Gill

Netherlands squad: Helmien Rambaldo, Violet Wattenburg, Marloes Braat, Laura Brewer, Christine Erkelens, Evelien Gerrits, Carlos de Groot, Denise Hannema, Joelette Hartenhof, Esther de Lange, Esther Langser, Mol Alarda, Maijn Nijman, Miranda Meier.

Pix by Kumarasiri Prasad our airport correspondent