• Germany, Netherlands and Scotland will face off in a double round-robin tournament at the ICC Women’s Qualifier Europe 2019 in La Manga, Spain
• Qualification is available for both the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier from 26 June to 29 June
• Scotland have already secured a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier as hosts so one place is up for grabs for the Netherlands or Germany

The stakes could not be higher for Germany, Netherlands and Scotland as three nations prepare to fight it out in the ICC Women’s Qualifier Europe 2019.

Qualification for both the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is up for grabs in La Manga, Spain, from 26 June to 29 June.

Although Scotland have already secured a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier as the hosts, they now harbor hopes of progressing to the next stage of the 50-over competition.

As a result, if Scotland win the Europe Qualifier group, the next highest placed team will also progress to the 2019 ICC Women’s World T20 Global Qualifier tournament.

The Global Qualifier, which will be held in Angus and Dundee from 31 August to 7 September, will then see eight teams battle it out for two spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Seven teams are already confirmed for the Global Qualifier, with Scotland joined by Bangladesh, Ireland, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea and United States.

Netherlands or Germany will complete the line-up as they look to continue their road to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in Australia in March 2020.

But with the Europe Qualifier also doubling up as a chance to reach the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2020, Scotland still have a vested interest in doing well.

Captained by Kathryn Bryce, Scotland will open their ICC Women’s Qualifier Europe 2019 campaign on 26 June against Germany before playing the Netherlands later that day.

Scotland are currently ranked 13th in the Women’s T20I rankings and Bryce stressed the importance of qualification for next year’s tournament in Australia to the country.

“The commitment to growing the game in Scotland is one of the best things about cricket here,” said Bryce, who made her debut for her country in 2011 aged just 13.

“It is currently the fastest growing sport in the country and so many people of all ages are getting involved and having a fantastic time.

“I would feel very excited and emotional [if we qualified]. We have been aiming for this for a number of years now, so to finally make it would be such an incredible feeling.”

Netherlands arrive in Spain ranked 23rd in the world and skipper Juliët Post believes success in the ICC Women’s Qualifier Europe 2019 would be just reward for her side’s hard work.

“It would be amazing if we qualify for the Qualifiers,” she said. “We have trained very hard the whole winter with our young squad for this tournament and it would be great to achieve this.”

Meanwhile, the ICC Women’s Qualifier Europe 2019 will be a landmark occasion for the German national team as it will be the first time they have competed in an ICC Women’s event.

Germany are ranked 31st in the Women’s T20I rankings and captain Anuradha Doddaballapur admitted she would be on cloud nine if her side were able to secure qualification.

“It's the first time that Germany is taking part in qualifying for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup,” she said. “We really look forward to playing on this big stage and show what we are capable of.”

Fixtures

ICC Women’s Qualifier Europe 2019

26 June: Scotland v Germany (La Manga Club, Murcia 10h30), Scotland v Netherlands (La Manga Club, Murcia)
27 June: Netherlands v Germany (La Manga Club, Murcia 10h30), Netherlands v Scotland (La Manga Club, Murcia)
29 June: Germany v Scotland (La Manga Club, Murcia 10h30), Germany v Netherlands (La Manga Club, Murcia)

Squad List

Germany: Anuradha Doddaballapur (C), Christina Gough, Anna Healey, Stephanie Frohnmayer, Karthika Vijayaraghavan, Verena Stolle, Peris Wadenpohl, Anne Bierwisch, Selina Meyenborg, Antonia Meyenborg, Asmita Kohli, Milena Beresford, Janet Ronalds, Suzanne McAnanama-Brereton

Netherlands: Heather Siegers, Denise van Deventer, Robine Rijke, Juliet Post (C), Babette de Leede, Miranda Veringmeier, Jolien van Vliet, Caroline de Lange, Hannah Landheer, Iris Zwilling, Esther Corder, Sterre Kalis, Silver Siegers, Eva Lynch

Scotland: Kathryn Bryce (C), Sarah Bryce, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Rebecca Glen, Samantha Haggo, Lorna Jack, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Kathleen McGill, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Scholes, Charis Scott, Ruth Willis

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Live scoring all matches will be available on www.icc-cricket.com

Images from each day’s play will be made available on the ICC Online Media Zone. For access please email mary.godbeer@icc-cricket.com

For more information on the event please click here

ABOUT THE ICC WOMEN’S QUALIFIERS 2019

• 27 teams will take part in the regional qualifiers, with one team per region qualifying for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2020.
• All matches played in the ICC Women’s Qualifiers 2019 will be T20 Internationals