CHLOE ABEL HOPING SCOTLAND CAN EARN PLACE AT 'SPECIAL' WORLD CUP

Chloe Abel believes Scotland are well prepared for the challenge ahead of them in the next fortnight, with an opportunity for Scotland to create more history and qualify for a second consecutive ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

 

Scotland open their tournament against the Netherlands on Tuesday morning, and will also face Zimbabwe, Thailand and Nepal in Group B, with the top three progressing to the Super Six stage.

 

Abel has already experienced qualifier success having been a member of the squad who qualified for, and competed at, a Women's T20 World Cup for the first time in 2024 - and this time the prize is a World Cup close to home, in England and Wales.

 

Abel said: "We've obviously spoken privately about the opportunity to play at a World Cup in England with each other, and I think that gives us that grit and determination probably a little bit more, even though it's already so high.

 

"Our determination and our drive to do well for for Scotland is always there, but I think it's always going to be a little bit more special if you can have your family and friends really close by and, being in England and Wales, it would be incredible - but we're trying not to focus too much on that."

 

To reach June's showpiece event, Scotland will have to finish as one of the top four sides in the Global Qualifier in Nepal - a country that most of the squad are experiencing for the first time.

 

 

“We've been in Nepal for two weeks preparing, and we've had a few challenges as a squad already - we know that being in foreign countries, it can be quite difficult with illness, and we've had a bit of illness around the group, but everyone seems to be back to 100% now.

 

“We've played some good practice matches against different opposition, and had some really good training sessions leading into the opening game, so we're feeling good. It's been good to get out here nice and early to adapt to the conditions, and also adapt to the environment that we're living in.

 

“We've got used to playing in really hot conditions, having played in Thailand and Pakistan last year, and the UAE quite a lot, so it's something different in Nepal - it's actually quite nice to go to a place that's fairly mild during the day, although it can be really cold in the mornings and cold in the evenings!

 

"Being at altitude is also a different challenge, and we’ve noticed the difference in ball flight, which is definitely something that we've been practicing at training getting used to how the ball flies differently.

 

“Being out here earlier has been really helpful. I personally haven't noticed the effect of altitude in the last couple of training sessions, but definitely at the start you felt like your lungs are probably occupying a little bit less capacity than usual. But we're an extremely fit team, and we've done all the prep to make sure that we're okay."

 

 

The tall, right-arm seamer's personal preparations for this competition have been balanced alongside working as a nurse at home in Australia - but she enjoyed a success Emerging Nations Trophy before Christmas, recording career-bets figures (5-13) against PNG.

 

"The Emerging Nations Trophy was a really exciting tour, playing some teams we haven't played before, and I think it was a real eye opener to how amazing associate cricket as a whole has become. It was a real reminder for us, having been one of the top associate sides, to not take our foot off the gas.

 

“Personally it was brilliant to have some success after a fairly long and challenging winter back in Tasmania for myself, so to see the hard work pay off, and to contribute to the team was amazing.

 

"Balancing my cricket alongside nursing has been tough, I think I probably underestimated how hard shift work would be, and then you throw in trying to train as much as you can on top of that, it does present challenges. 

 

"I'm so grateful that I can do both, because it gives me skills, it gives me life perspective and it gives me balance, which I know for myself is really crucial in terms of being a kind, caring and happy person, which leads to me being a better cricketer as well."

 

Watch Scotland take on the Netherlands in their first game of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier from 0715 GMT on Tuesday 20 January, live on icc.tv!