Pakistan seals spot in Women's Cricket World Cup after recording four straight wins

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan secured a place in the Women’s Cricket World Cup by beating Thailand on Thursday for its fourth straight victory in the qualifying tournament.

After defeating Ireland, Scotland and the West Indies, Pakistan thumped Thailand by 87 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to seal one of the two vacant World Cup places.

Bangladesh, Scotland and the West Indies are still in contention for the remaining spot to join host India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the eight-team, 50-over tournament later this year.

Bangladesh, which has won three of its four games, will play Pakistan on Saturday, when the West Indies round faces Thailand. Scotland meets Ireland on Friday in its last game.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana led from the front and took 10 wickets in four games. She is second on the bowling chart in the qualifying tournament behind Hayley Matthews of the West Indies, who has bagged 12 wickets in four games.

Sana orchestrated Pakistan’s place at the World Cup with her brilliant all-round performance against Thailand as she scored a half-century and then claimed 3-39 with her medium fast bowling.

The International Cricket Council has not yet announced the dates and venues of the World Cup, but last December agreed to a hybrid model due to severe political relations between India and Pakistan. All matches involving India and Pakistan in an ICC event will be played at a neutral venue.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Pakistan's Sidra Amin celebrates after scoring fifty during the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier match between Pakistan and Thailand at the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani players celebrate their win at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier match against Thailand in the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani players celebrate their win at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier match against Thailand in the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani players celebrate their win at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier match against Thailand in the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan's Sidra Amin celebrates after scoring fifty during the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier match between Pakistan and Thailand at the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani players pose for photograph after winning the match against Thailand and qualifying for ICC Women's World Cup, at the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)