The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 will have one of its most exciting and much-awaited clashes when India Women take on Pakistan Women at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The match will start at 8:00 PM IST, with both teams coming into the game after winning their opening matches. India have won both of their games so far, while Pakistan also started their Asia Cup campaign with a win. With the two sides now facing each other, this promises to be a big game in the tournament.
India have started their campaign in strong fashion and have looked comfortable in their two matches so far. They first beat Thailand Women by 94 runs on August 30, before registering a 137-run win over Hong Kong Women on September 3. Pakistan, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 35-run victory over Thailand Women on September 1. India will now look to keep their winning run going, while Pakistan will hope to put up a strong challenge against them. The game also gives both teams a chance to make a big statement in the Asia Cup.
Squads:
India Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Bharti Fulmali, Kranti Gaud, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Pratika Rawal, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Nandani Sharma, N Sree Charani, Radha Yadav
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Fatima Sana (C), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar
Players to watch out:
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana will be one of the main players to watch for India after her brilliant century in the team’s last match against Hong Kong Women. She scored 124 runs from 64 balls, with 14 fours and seven sixes, helping India win the game by 137 runs. The knock showed how well she is timing the ball and how quickly she can change the game when she gets going. Mandhana has also scored 388 runs in 10 matches, with an average of 38.8 and a strike rate of 152.15. After that century, Pakistan will have a big challenge on their hands when Mandhana walks out to bat.
N Sree Charani
N Sree Charani has been one of India’s most successful bowlers and will be an important player in this match as well. She has taken 22 wickets in 10 matches, while her economy rate stands at 6.16 and her strike rate is 10.18. She has been able to pick up wickets without giving away too many runs, which makes her a useful option for India during the match. Pakistan’s batters will need to be careful when facing her, especially if she gets the ball to turn or slow down. A good spell from Charani could make things difficult for Pakistan’s batting line-up.
Muneeba Ali
Muneeba Ali will be one of Pakistan’s important batters against India and will have a big role at the top of the order. She has made 274 runs in 10 matches, with an average of 27.4 and a strike rate of 119.13. Pakistan will want her to give the team a good start and stay at the crease long enough to build a strong base. Facing India’s bowlers early will not be easy, so Muneeba will need to settle in before looking to play bigger shots. If she gets a good start, she can give Pakistan a strong platform for the rest of the innings.
Fatima Sana
Fatima Sana will have an important role for Pakistan as the captain and also as one of their main bowlers. She has taken 12 wickets in six matches, with an economy rate of 6.69 and a strike rate of 10.91. Her ability to take wickets at important times can be very useful against India’s strong batting order. Sana will also need to lead her team well in a match where every small moment can make a difference. Pakistan will look to her for early wickets and a controlled spell when India are trying to build their innings.
Pitch:
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to offer a pitch where both batters and bowlers can get something from the conditions. The fast bowlers could get some help when the ball is new, so the batters may need to be a little careful during the first few overs. Once they get used to the pitch and its pace, they can look to play their shots with more freedom. The surface could become slower as the match goes on, which may help the spinners in the middle overs.
Weather:
The weather in Dubai is expected to stay clear around the match with very little chance of rain during the game. The temperature is expected to be around 34°C, with clear skies, 0.0 mm rainfall and a 0% chance of rain. It is likely to remain around 33°C at 9:00 PM, while the rain chance is still expected to be very low later in the evening.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Muneeba Ali, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Fatima Sana, Deepti Sharma, N Sree Charani, Sadia Iqbal, Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav
Match Details:
Date – September 5, 2026
Time – 8:00 PM IST
Venue – Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Broadcast – All matches of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network. Fans can also watch the tournament through the Sony LIV app and website.
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