Women's T20 World Cup 2024 – Shreyanka Patil, Phoebe Litchfield and Freya Kemp are among the players to watch

Australia

Litchfield will play her first world tournament after debuting for Australia in 2022. As late as September she was still unsure whether she would become Australia's best XI, but a stunning half-century in a thrilling fightback against New Zealand all but secured her place in Australia's middle order. She is one of the most exciting and innovative young batsmen in the world and will play an important role as one of the few left-handed batsmen in Australia's lineup.

Bangladesh

The legspin all-rounder lacks power, but he can close gaps and keep the scorecard up to speed. She was part of the Bangladesh team at the U19 World Cup last year and became the team's top scorer with a score of 157.73. This earned Shorna a call-up to the senior team at the age of 16 and was immediately included in the T20 World Cup squad. She made her presence felt on the international stage with a 22-ball 31 against New Zealand at No. 5. Later that year, she stunned South Africa with 5 for 28, starting a glorious chapter in women's cricket in Bangladesh. She recently hit a 14-ball 25 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, placing her at No. 8. Although Shorna can be a bit expensive with the ball, Shorna's batting approach is a refreshing change in a lineup that is struggling. to score quickly.

India

Despite being just 12 years old, 22-year-old Patil has quickly established herself as one of the key cogs in India's spin attack, despite only making her international debut last December. It's no secret that she thrives under pressure and can bowl across phases. Their ability to move down the rankings only increases their value. She hasn't had enough chances to play for India yet but has shown glimpses of her ability with the bat in the WPL. She could be exactly the bowler-batter they don't want to face in the UAE conditions.

New Zealand

The 20-year-old left-arm spinner already has an ODI and T20 World Cup under her belt, having taken part in the 2022 and 2023 events. She also competed in the Commonwealth Games, so she has considerable experience for someone so young. The results have been promising too, with her career-best 4-22 against England at Lord's earlier this year. Chances are she'll form a frontline spin trio with Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson. “I was really impressed with the job our spinners did,” said captain Sophie Devine ahead of the Australia series. “They will play a big role in the future… in the UAE, Fran Jonas and Eden Carson will play a crucial role for us.”

Pakistan

Aroob offers hope for the future of Pakistan. The legspinner was just 16 years old when she made her international debut across all formats in 2019. The following year, she soon lost her place in the senior team after playing just five T20Is, including a stint at the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia. However, she showcased her skills in domestic tournaments and was part of the emerging Pakistan team last year. She was then named Pakistan's captain at the 2023 Under-19 World Cup and a few months later was also called up to the senior national team again after three years. Despite limited success with the senior team, Aroob's conventional leg break and good flipper can cause problems for batsmen.

South Africa

Good legspinners are among the most valuable players in the game and South Africa have found a specialist in Naidu, who is 18 years old, completing her final year of high school and already has extensive experience in major tournaments. Naidu played in the Under-19 World Cup last year and for the South African Emerging Side in the African Games, where he took five wickets at 11am. Uncapped when she was named in the T20 World Cup squad, she made her debut in Pakistan, where her first notable act was to take a blinder catch at short fine leg before scoring with her second ball in international cricket Wicket scored. The early signs are that she relies on her variations even when she gets hit, and as part of a dynamic attack she could be the missing piece.

Sri Lanka

West Indies

The youthful all-rounder from St. Lucia has always done things long before anyone expected her to. She was 14 when she was called up to the Windward Islands senior team, the youngest woman to do so, and 16 when she attended a West Indies training camp in Antigua in 2021. Now 19, she can already boast great success. James was West Indies' standout player at the Under-19 World Cup last year; their highest run-scorer and only player to score more than 100 runs, and also their highest wicket-taker. She made her senior debut the same month and although she didn't make the World Cup squad then, 18 months later she has played 12 ODIs and 14 T20Is and appears to have a bright future ahead of her.

England

Talented all-rounder Kemp made a splash against India in 2022 when she became the youngest England player to score a fifty in a T20I at the age of 17 years and 145 days. But later that year, she suffered a stress fracture in her back, which ruled her out of the 2023 T20 World Cup. An injury flare-up at the end of last year further delayed her return to bowling until New Zealand's visit in July due to her left arm stitch. A quiet hundred led England to select her for the recent tour of Ireland while the majority of the World Cup squad trained in Abu Dhabi, where she posted a good 47-ball 65 and 2 for 7 from three overs in three ODIs Form found in the second game. Completing their comeback with a strong World Cup debut would undoubtedly mean a lot to Kemp and England's prospects.

Scotland

The qualification's leading wicket-taker, 22-year-old left-armer Slater, was crucial to Scotland's first appearance at a Women's T20 World Cup. He took 11 wickets at 13.81 and an economy rate of 7.60. This included a career-best 5 for 17 against Uganda. Slater took 12 wickets for Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and five wickets at an economy of 6.51, including England bowling star Nat Sciver-Brunt, during her nine appearances for Oval Invincibles in the Women's Hundred. Having played first-class cricket in England, she – and her team – should look good on the big stage in the United Arab Emirates.