The ODI captain hopes to start the preparations for World Cup 2021 by August.
The ongoing outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continuous to wreak havoc all over the world while the global pandemic has caused the most significant disruption to the worldwide sporting calendar with almost all the sporting events being either postponed or canceled.
The staging of the cricketing fixtures around the world has also been impacted by the spread of the deadly COVID-19 that has claimed over 150,000 lives globally so far.
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Amid the ongoing health crisis, India – the country also under the grip of COVID-19 pandemic with over 14000 cases, has received some welcome news earlier this week, as the Indian Women's cricket team has qualified for the Women's Cricket World Cup 2021 to be held in New Zealand.
Besides India, the hosts New Zealand, Australia, England, and South Africa have also sealed a direct berth for the quadrennial 50-over showpiece event to be played from February 6 to March 7 next year.
On the latest development, India’s ODI captain Mithali Raj said qualifying for the ICC World Cup 2021 is definitely welcome and good news for India Women's team amidst the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
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She further said that the Women in Blue were not sure how to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers to be played from July 3-19 in Sri Lanka in the current situation, but now they are relieved with their direct qualification for the mega event and can shift focus to planning to realize the big dream.
Mithali told Sportstar on Friday (April 17), “In that context, this is welcome news amidst the crisis because of COVID-19 that is threatening the entire world. Definitely, this is good news even though we are not sure when the conditions will improve and when any sporting activity resumes.”
She added, “Now, with the issue of World Cup settled, we can plan in a much better way the preparations as there will be enough time even if the situation improves, hopefully, by August this year. Of course, a lot depends on the kind of international schedule women’s cricket can afford in the run-up to the World Cup. But, by all means, with India qualifying for the event, the focus can shift to other equally important subjects like planning to realize that one big dream - win the World Cup.”
The 37-year-old signed off by saying, “Obviously, the focus now cannot be on competitions but on the resumption of minimum training sessions.”
(With Sportstar Inputs)