Women’s Asia Cup 2022: Seven players to watch out for

The eighth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 began with a doubleheader between Bangladesh-Thailand and India-Sri Lanka on October 1, 2022. The Asia Cup is returning after a long gap of four years, and the six-time champions India would be looking to extend their title-winning streak, entering the tournament as the favourites.

The competition will be played between seven teams, with UAE, Malaysia, and Pakistan being the other three teams apart from the four playing on the first day. The tournament will be played in a round-robin format, and all the games will be hosted by the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh. With the seven teams gearing up for the continental event, let us have a look at seven players to watch out for at the event-

7. Nattaya Boochatham, Thailand

The 35-year-old veteran all-rounder has played 41 innings and amassed 469 runs, with a top score of 56. Her off-breaks have done wonders, and she has scalped 71 wickets so far, with one four-wicket haul to her name, when she registered 4/3 in her spell. Boochatham will be the one to look out for from Thailand.

6. Elsa Hunter, Malaysia

The 17-year-old youngster who made her debut in the Malaysian side in 2019, has since scored 364 runs in 23 innings at an average of 20.22 and a strike rate of 88.34. Hunter led the charts when Malaysia recently squared off against UAE, earlier this year, as she amassed 95 runs in three innings, 53* being her best.

5. Esha Rohit Oza, UAE

The 24-year-old Esha Oza made her debut in 2018 and since then, in 39 innings, she has amassed 1119 runs at an average of 32.91, a strike rate of 121.76 including four half-centuries and a couple of hundreds under her belt. She has been in fine touch recently, and will be the one to watch out for from UAE.

4. Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan skipper has been the team’s savior, as she continues playing the crucial knocks. Chamari Athapaththu will lead her way with the bat while opening the innings and get her side over the line while also handling the team.

3. Sidra Ameen, Pakistan

Pakistan’s opening batter Sidra Ameen has been in fine form of late, and she also bagged a white-ball century while playing against Sri Lanka recently. Pakistan has had issues with their starting lineup, but Ameen has managed to do away with the odds.

2. Salma Khatun, Bangladesh

The veteran Bangladesh all-rounder will be the one to watch out for as the defending champions look to win their second consecutive title. The 31-year-old will lead Bangladesh’s bowling attack, and will also be handy in the lower-middle order.

1. Smriti Mandhana, India

The Indian opener has been in terrific form of late and is backed with a lot of cricket. Thus, she will be in great touch at the Asia Cup as well. She has been performing well since the Commonwealth games, followed by The Hundred and then the England tour.