India women’s cricket team, with 23 points in the Women’s Championship, has become one of the 5 sides to seal a direct berth at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 to be held in New Zealand.

The India women’s cricket team has qualified for the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 to be held in New Zealand, the International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday.

India along with hosts New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa are 5 teams who have sealed a direct berth for the quadrennial 50-over World Cup. The Women’s World Cup is scheduled to be played from February 6 to March 7 in 2021.

The ICC made the announcement after its “Technical Committee (TC) has decided that teams will share points in all three series in the ICC Women’s Championship that did not take place during the competition window” — 2017 to 2020.

India, who reached the final in the 2017 Women’s World Cup, have won 10 matches and lost 8 out of the 21 they have played in the ongoing cycle of ICC Women’s Championship.

Mithali Raj-led Indian side last played an ODI series in November 2019. They came back from behind to beat West Indies in West Indies 2-1 in a 3-match series.

“Australia (37 points), England (29), South Africa (25) and now India (23) have qualified by virtue of being the top four. Pakistan (19), New Zealand (17), West Indies (13) and Sri Lanka (5) complete the table,” an ICC release said.

“The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to be played from 3-19 July in Sri Lanka, this is subject to review due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The India-Pakistan series was originally scheduled in the sixth round of the competition, between July and November 2019, but despite the best efforts of both Boards, it was unable to take place,” the release added.

“In respect of the India v Pakistan series, the Technical Committee concluded the series could not be played because of a Force Majeure event after the BCCI demonstrated that it was unable to obtain the necessary government clearances to allow India to participate in the bilateral series against Pakistan that forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

“Meanwhile, two other ICC Women’s Championship series have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa were to host Australia and Sri Lanka were to host New Zealand in the last round of matches.”