When the Thai women’s cricket team made their international debut in 2007, they were only able to knock in 40 runs and were handed a comprehensive defeat by Nepal.
Fast forward to 2019, and the Thais have made history by qualifying for their first ever T-20 Women’s World Cup in Australia. They beat Papua New Guinea in the semi-finals of the qualifying tournament in Scotland earlier this month, to book their place among the world elite. Thailand were beaten in the final by Bangladesh, but that would not take away anything from their magnificent results.
The qualification is the first time in the history of Thailand Cricket across all formats and all genders. In fact they are also the first South East Asian side to achieve the feat.
More interestingly, two players, who were part of the Thai team that were humbled back in 2007 – Nattaya Boochatham and Sornnarin Tippoch – were also members of this Thai squad.
Having played in the previous two World T20 qualifiers, the Thai team beat the more established teams including Namibia, Ireland and Netherlands this time around. They lost all their matches in their previous two appearance at the qualifiers.
It was a giant step forward for the girls, who were crowned the South East Asian Games champions in 2017.
Thailand had appointed India’s Harshal Pathak, who coached the Maharashtra team to the Ranji Trophy previously, and his influence was also a telling factor. Pathak a former batting coach to Indian women superstar Hamnpreet Singh, instilled the technical factor that was lacking with the team.
Tippoch, who made the switch from softball to cricket in 2007, is perhaps one of the vital cogs in the Thai side.
Born and raised in a family of farmers in Buriram, was appointed as the team captain just a year after taking up the game.
The unassuming lass is now an unlikely role model to the 3,000 odd women players in Thailand.
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