Metcalfe to lead Ireland in Women's Cricket Challenge

Legspinner Ciara Metcalfe will lead Ireland in the ICC Women's Cricket Challenge in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in the absence of Heather Whelan who led the team in the Women's European Championship in August.

Ireland, hosts South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Netherlands will take part in the event that will decide the new women's ODI team rankings, behind the top four of England, New Zealand, India and Australia.

Cricket South Africa senior cricket manager, Maxwell Jordaan, said the tournament was an opportunity to improve the competition in the women's game. "By providing the chance for the ODI teams outside of the top four ranked countries, who have traditionally dominated global ICC tournaments, to play each other in an event environment, we hope to narrow the gap in playing standards between the top ten ODI teams.

"The competition also provides an exciting opportunity for Ireland and the Netherlands, who haven't experienced playing at the recent ICC World Twenty20 women's events, the chance to play against the leading international sides in two formats of the game."

South Africa coach, Yashin Ebrahim, who was earlier coach of the Nashua Dolphins men's side, said he was looking forward to his first assignment in women's cricket. "Everything is different, from the pace of the game to the overall way in which it is played compared to the men. My team has been hard at work and this tournament should be a great platform to show the many improvements I have seen."

The tournament starts on October 6 with Pakistan taking on Ireland at the North Western University 1 Cricket Ground.

Ireland
Ciara Metcalfe (capt), Clare Shillington (vice-capt), Laura Delany, Kimberley Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Amy Kenealy, Suzanne Kenealy, Louise McCarthy, Eimear Richardson, Melissa Scott Hayward, Nicola Symmons, Mary Waldron (wk) and Jill Whelan

Pakistan
Sana Mir, Marina Iqbal, Nain Abidi, Bismah Maroof, Miaram Hassan Shah, Javeria Wadood, Nida Rashid, Kanwal Naz, Bibi Nahida, Batool Fatima, Shumaila Qureshi, Asmavia Iqbal, Kainat Imtiaz and Sania Iqbal

South Africa
Cri-Zelda Brits (capt), Mignon Du Preez, Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Shandre Fritz, Sunette Loubser, Shabnum Ismail, Trish Chetty (wk), Angelique Taai, Denisha Devnarain, Moseline Daniels, Mazabatha Klaas, Jana Nel and Marcia Letsoalo

Sri Lanka
Shashikala Siriwardana (capt), Dilani Manodara (vice-capt/wk), Chamari Athapaththu, Suwini de Alwis, Chamani Seneviratne, Sandamali Dolawatta, Eshani Lokusooriya, Sripali Weerakkody, Hiruka Fernando, Deepika Rasangika, Chamari Polgampola, Udeshika Prabodhani, Lasanthi Madushani Heenatigala and Sanduni Abeyawickrama