The Women’s Asia Cup 2024 is set to commence on July 19 in Sri Lanka, marking an exciting chapter in the tournament’s history. This year’s edition features eight teams, the highest number of participants to date, divided into two groups of four. Group A includes India, Pakistan, UAE and Nepal, while Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand.
Tournament structure and schedule
The tournament will follow a round-robin format within each group, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The grand final is scheduled for July 28 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, which will host all 15 matches.
Group stage dynamics
- Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Nepal
- India, a dominant force with seven titles, is expected to be a strong contender.
- Pakistan, with a solid squad, will aim to challenge India’s supremacy.
- UAE and Nepal will look to make an impact, with Nepal returning to the tournament for the first time since 2016.
- Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand
- Sri Lanka, as hosts, will seek to leverage home conditions to their advantage.
- Bangladesh, the 2018 champions, will aim to replicate their past success.
- Malaysia and Thailand will strive to showcase their growing cricketing prowess.
Key matches and opening day
The tournament will kick off with a double-header on July 19. The opening match features UAE against Nepal, followed by a high-octane clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. These matches will set the tone for an intense competition, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of these initial encounters.
India’s dominance in the Women’s Asia Cup is well-documented, with the team winning seven out of the eight editions held so far. The only exception was in 2018 when Bangladesh clinched a historic victory by defeating India in the final. This year’s expanded format, featuring eight teams, reflects the growing popularity and competitive spirit of women’s cricket in Asia.
Also READ: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Here are the complete squads of all 8 teams
Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Complete Schedule and Fixtures
Group Stage Matches
Friday, 19 July 2024
1st Match, Group A
- Nepal Women vs. United Arab Emirates Women
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
2nd Match, Group A
- India Women vs. Pakistan Women
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Saturday, 20 July 2024
3rd Match, Group B
- Malaysia Women vs. Thailand Women
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
4th Match, Group B
- Sri Lanka Women vs. Bangladesh Women
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Sunday, 21 July 2024
5th Match, Group A
- India Women vs. United Arab Emirates Women
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
6th Match, Group A
- Nepal Women vs. Pakistan Women
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Monday, 22 July 2024
7th Match, Group B
- Sri Lanka Women vs. Malaysia Women
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
8th Match, Group B
- Bangladesh Women vs. Thailand Women
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
9th Match, Group A
- Pakistan Women vs. United Arab Emirates Women
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
10th Match, Group A
- India Women vs. Nepal Women
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
11th Match, Group B
- Bangladesh Women vs. Malaysia Women
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
12th Match, Group B
- Sri Lanka Women vs. Thailand Women
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Semi-Finals
Friday, 26 July 2024
1st Semi-Final
- Teams: TBA
- Time: 2:00 PM IST/Local (8:30 AM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
2nd Semi-Final
- Teams: TBA
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Final
Sunday, 28 July 2024
Final
- Teams: TBA
- Time: 7:00 PM IST/Local (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Broadcast & Live Streaming details:
- India: Star Sports 3; Disney+Hotstar and DD Sports
- Sri Lanka: Star Sports 2, Dialog TV
- Pakistan: PTV
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.