Ireland announces women's squad for Pakistan qualifiers

Heather Whelan was retained Ireland captain for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifiers to be played from 19 to 25 November in Lahore, Pakistan.

Their latest World Cup campaign, in 2005, was disappointing: they came bottom, having failed to win a match. Most of the squad have experience from that campaign, though, and with a busy summer under their belts - including a full domestic programme, participation in a men's league, summer tour to Sussex and the European Championships in Holland - and intensive training, they are confident of making the World Cup.

Pakistan represents the biggest challenge of the group. Though Ireland women have never lost to them, Pakistan will be out to settle some scores from when their men fell to Ireland men in the World Cup earlier this year.

The women's coach Miriam Grealey said of the preparations to come: "We will be working on playing spin, footwork, and batting with more aggression and confidence, but also on areas for individual development. We are working hard on our consistency which is the key to winning.

"Our fielding has really improved over the last couple of years, we have watched and learned from the likes of Australia and New Zealand and, in this area, I feel we are on a par with any of the top nations.

"We recognise that the conditions will be tougher in Pakistan, so physical fitness, conditioning and circuit training are all part of our overall preparation."

Squad: Anne Linehan, Caitriona Beggs, Cecelia Joyce, Ciara Metcalfe, Clare Shillington, Eimear Richardson, Elaine Nolan, Heather Whelan (capt), Isobel Joyce, Jean Carroll, Jill Whelan, Jillian Smythe, Marianne Herbert, Nicki Coffey.