The ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup has evolved into one of the most important stages for women’s cricket in the continent, with each edition producing a fresh champion and a stronger competitive identity.
From India’s early dominance to Bangladesh’s breakthrough and Sri Lanka’s maiden title in 2024, the tournament has steadily reflected the rise of women’s cricket across Asia, and the upcoming 6th edition in the United Arab Emirates from 28 August to 13 September 2026 promises another compelling chapter.
India (2012, 2016, and 2022)
India announced themselves as the standard-bearers of the tournament in the inaugural 2012 edition in China, where they were led by Harmanpreet Kaur and lifted the trophy in Guangzhou after defeating Pakistan by 18 runs in the final. India had already established control in the league stage by finishing top of Group A with 6 points from 3 matches.
Outclassing their group opponents in a tournament that featured 8 teams across two groups, with Group A comprising India, Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong, and Group B including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China and Nepal. That first triumph set the tone for India’s long-standing influence in the competition.
India continued that dominance in the 2nd edition, hosted by Thailand in 2016, once again under Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy. In a six-team tournament featuring India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Nepal, India finished at the top of the league table with 10 points from 5 games before sealing the title by defeating Pakistan by 17 runs in the final in Bangkok. It was a title that reinforced India’s consistency and showed how quickly they had become the benchmark in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup.
India returned to the top in the 4th edition in 2022, which was played in Bangladesh and featured 7 teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Once again led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India finished at the top of the points table with 10 points from 6 games, registering 5 wins and 1 defeat in the league stages. In the final in Sylhet, they overcame Sri Lanka by 8 wickets to reclaim the trophy and add a third Women’s T20 Asia Cup crown to their name.
Bangladesh (2018)
The 3rd edition in Malaysia in 2018 marked a significant shift in the tournament’s history, as Bangladesh emerged as champions for the first time. Led by Salma Khatun, Bangladesh finished second on the points table with 8 points from 5 matches, including 4 victories and a defeat in the league stages, before producing a memorable final performance in Kuala Lumpur. They defeated India by 3 wickets to claim their maiden ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup title, a result that underlined the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s cricket in Asia.
Sri Lanka (2024)
The 5th edition, hosted by Sri Lanka in 2024, delivered another major milestone as the hosts lifted their first ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup title. Chamari Athapaththu guided Sri Lanka through a strong campaign in which they topped Group B with 6 points from 3 games in the league stages. In the final at Dambulla, Sri Lanka defeated India by 8 wickets to win their maiden title and become the latest champions of the tournament.
With India winning in 2012, 2016 and 2022, Bangladesh breaking through in 2018, and Sri Lanka celebrating in 2024, the Women’s T20 Asia Cup has become a powerful showcase of shifting momentum and rising standards. As the tournament heads toward its likely 2026 edition in the UAE, the competition is poised to deliver yet another defining contest in the story of women’s cricket in Asia.
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