India is placed in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Shafali has been outstanding in her first season at the highest level while uncapped Richa seems to have impressed the selectors with her quality domestic performances.
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A 16-member touring party was also announced for a T20I tri-series, also including England and the hosts, that will enable Kaur and her team's final preparation from January 31 for the big tournament down under.
At the World Cup, India is placed in Group A alongside Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Sri Lanka women's teams.
World T20 Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodriguez, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Richa Ghosh, Tania Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy.
Tri-Series (16 member) squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodriguez, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Richa Ghosh, Tania Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Nuzhat Parveen.
(Inputs from PTI)