The UAE women’s team left for Amsterdam on Thursday for their participation at the World Twenty20 Global Qualifier.

Led by captain Humaira Tasneem, the 14-person squad departed Dubai airport in the afternoon a week early before they open their campaign against hosts Netherlands on July 7.

As well as the Dutch, they have been drawn alongside newly-crowned Asian champions Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea with the tournament also featuring Scotland, Ireland, Thailand and Uganda.

Only two teams will reach the World Twenty20 in the West Indies later this  year. For the UAE, it will be the second-ever ICC tournament after they booked their Netherlands berth through the Asia Qualifiers back in November.

Before they take on the Dutch, they will play a warm-up game against Uganda on July 5.

UAE squad: Humaira Tasneem (Captain); Chamani Senevirathne; Chaya Mughal; Esha Oza; Heena Hotchandani; Ishni Senavirathna; Judit  Cleetus (Wicketkeeper); Kavisha Kumari; Namita Dsouza; Neha Sharma; Nisha Ali; Roopa Nagaraj; Subha Srinivasan and Udeni  Kuruppuarachchi. Sockalingam Vairamoorthy (coach)