The biggest Asian cricket competition for women, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)-organized Asia Cup, returns for its 9th edition from July 19th to 28th, 2024, in Sri Lanka. This edition of the Women’s Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, serving as a perfect lead-up to the Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup. From an overview of its history and format to broadcasting details, squads, and the schedule, here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup.
History:
Established in 2004, the Women’s Asia Cup, in its first year, was a bilateral event featuring India and host Sri Lanka. Played in the One-Day International (ODI) format, India secured the inaugural championship with five straight wins. Pakistan joined India and Sri Lanka in the 2005-06 and 2006 editions, which continued in the ODI format with India maintaining their dominance. In 2008, the last ODI format edition to date, Bangladesh entered the fray, yet India extended their streak to four consecutive titles.
Since 2012, the tournament has been played in the T20 format. The 2012 edition featured eight teams, the most to date, followed by six in 2016 and 2018, and seven in 2022. Despite the switch from 50 overs to 20, India continued their championship form, winning in 2012, 2016, and 2022. In the 2018 final, India lost to Bangladesh in a nail-biter, marking the competition’s second champion in its seven-season history.
The pathway to the Asia Cup has been formalized with the introduction of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, first played earlier this year, revamping the ACC Women’s T20 Championship previously played intermittently.
2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup:
The four full members of the Asian Cricket Council – Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – qualified directly for the main event. Originally, it was announced that the finalists of the 2024 ACC Women’s Premier Cup, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, would join these four teams. However, it was later notified that all semi-finalists from the Premier Cup would participate, adding Nepal and Thailand to the lineup.
In Group A, safe to be labeled as the “group of death,” India, Nepal, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates will compete, while Group B features Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Format:
The forthcoming 9th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing against the others once in league games. The top two seeded teams from both groups will proceed to the semi-finals, and the winners will advance to the final.
Squads:
India – Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan
Bangladesh – Nigar Sultana Joty (C), Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorifa Khatun, Ritu Moni, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sultana Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Ishma Tanjim, Rabeya Khan, Rumana Ahmed, Marufa Akter, Sabikun Nahar Jesmin
Sri Lanka – Chamari Athapaththu (C), Anushka Sanjeewani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Ama Kanchana, Udeshika Prabodani, Kawya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasooriya, Kaveesha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunarathne, Inoshi Priyadarshani, Nilakshi De Silva, Sachini Nisansala, Shashini Gimhani
Pakistan – Nida Dar (C), Iram Javed, Sadia Iqbal, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin, Najiha Alvi, Syeda Aroob Shah, Nashra Sundhu, Tasmia Rubab, Omaima Sohail, Tuba Hassan
United Arab Emirates – Esha Rohit Oza (C), Kavisha Kumari, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Lavanya Keny, Emily Thomas, Heena Harish Hotchandani, Mehak Thakur, Indhuja Nandakumar, Rinitha Rajith, Khushi Mohan Sharma, Rishitha Rajith, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Vaishnave Mahesh
Thailand – Thipatcha Putthawong (C), Nannapat Khoncharoenkai (WK), Suwanan Khiaoto (WK), Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Rosenanee Kanoh, Suleeporn Laomi, Phannita Maya, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Nattaya Boochatham, Chanida Sutthiruang, Kanyakorn Bunthansen, Nannaphat Chaihan
Nepal – Indu Barma (C), Kajol Shrestha, Rubina Chettri, Sabnam Rai, Sita Rana Magar, Rajmati Airee, Puja Mahato, Bindu Rawal, Roma Thapa, Mamta Chaudhary, Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar, Dolly Bhatta, Kritika Marasini, Samjhana Khadka
Malaysia – Winifred Duraisingam (C), Mas Elysa, Ainna Hamizah Hashim, Wan Julia, Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Aina Najwa, Aisya Eleesa, Nur Izzatul Syafiqa, Arianna Natasya, Elsa Hunter, Dhanusri Sri Muhunan, Suabika Manivannan, Amalin Sorfina, Nur Aisyah, Irdina Beh Nabil
Schedule:
| DATE | MATCHES | TIME (LOCAL) |
19-Jul-24 |
United Arab Emirates v Nepal | 2:00 PM |
| India v Pakistan | 7:00 PM | |
20-Jul-24 |
Malaysia v Thailand | 2:00 PM |
| Sri Lanka v Bangladesh | 7:00 PM | |
21-Jul-24 |
India v United Arab Emirates | 2:00 PM |
| Pakistan v Nepal | 7:00 PM | |
22-Jul-24 |
Sri Lanka v Malaysia | 2:00 PM |
| Bangladesh v Thailand | 7:00 PM | |
23-Jul-24 |
Pakistan v United Arab Emirates | 2:00 PM |
| India v Nepal | 7:00 PM | |
24-Jul-24 |
Bangladesh v Malaysia | 2:00 PM |
| Sri Lanka v Thailand | 7:00 PM | |
26-Jul-24 |
Semi-Final 1 | 2:00 PM |
| Semi-Final 2 | 7:00 PM | |
| 28-Jul-24 | Final | 3:00 PM |
*All games will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Broadcast:
All games of the tournament will be live streamed on Disney+ Hotstar and telecasted on Star Sports Network.