ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025: Group D

Teams with a point to prove make up Group D of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025.

Australia

One of the returning semi-finalists, Australia had to regroup after a three-run loss to England in the last four in 2023.

Five players who played in the inaugural tournament are returning, including Maggie Clark, who at just 15 was the leading wicket-taker last time out in South Africa.

Also making a second appearance is captain Lucy Hamilton and Chloe Ainsworth, who have plenty of Women’s Big Bash League experience, and 15-year-old rising star Caoimhe Bray.

The New South Wales youngster is already an impressive all-rounder and has also played for the Junior Matildas in football to further extend the comparisons with her Sydney Sixers teammate, Ellyse Perry.

Heading into the tournament, Australia recorded four victories out of six in a tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand on the Gold Coast in 2024 and arrive in Malaysia in good form.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh produced the shock of the 2023 competition in the very first game when they defeated Australia with a commanding performance.

They will have the chance to do it again, this time in their second match when the two nations meet at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi on 20 January.

Bangladesh topped their group two years ago with three wins, Shorna Akter later named in the team of the tournament before going on to claim senior honours.

Sumaiya Akter has been named captain of the side, having played at the 2023 edition, including making 31 not out against Australia.

The 19-year-old has two senior caps, while Habiba Islam and Nishita Akter Nishi have also represented the senior team.

Sumaiya led Bangladesh to the final of the first-ever Women’s U19 Asia Cup in 2024 as her side lost out to India, with the matches taking place in Malaysia to give them perfect preparation for this World Cup.

Nepal

Nepal were the final team to book their place in this year’s World Cup, doing so ahead of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on run rate.

The South Asian side are making their debut having beaten the UAE by eight wickets with Krishma Gurung taking four wickets in the victory.

Gurung has been named in Nepal’s squad for their first World Cup appearance, with Puja Mahato set to lead the side.

Mahato made her senior international debut for Nepal in 2023, going on to play in the senior Women’s Asia Cup. She was key to her country’s qualification for the tournament, hitting an unbeaten 130 off 69 balls and taking five wickets in a victory over Kuwait.

Gurung was captain as her side reached the semi-finals of the Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur before losing to Bangladesh, meaning their match-up in Nepal’s first World Cup game on 18 January has added weight.

Scotland

Scotland head to their second World Cup with the explicit aim of making it out of the group stages.

Niamh Muir returns to captain the side having been part of the 2023 team whose only win came against the USA in the fourth-place play-offs.

Molly Barbour-Smith will make her first appearance at a World Cup having been ruled out with injury prior to Scotland’s campaign starting in South Africa.

Kirsty McColl was Barbour-Smith’s replacement and both have established themselves in the side.

They begin their campaign against Australia before taking on Nepal and then Bangladesh, none of whom they have faced at a World Cup before.

Head coach Kari Carswell said: “There’s plenty who’ve been in good form or who’ve come off a really positive summer, and I think we’ve got all bases covered in terms of our seam attack, spinners, top order batters and those in the middle and lower order.

“It’s a really exciting group and looking ahead there’s some who potentially have another U19 cycle to go through beyond this one, so that’s a big positive too.”