The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is set to be an exciting spectacle, with the tournament scheduled to be held from October 3 to October 20 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the first time that the UAE will be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup, following its successful history with other global cricket events. The tournament is expected to gather fans from around the globe as the top 10 women’s teams battle for the prestigious title.
Group Stages Overview
The group stages of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup consist of two pools of five teams each. Group A features Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, while Group B includes England, South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland. Each team will play four matches within their group, with the top two from each pool progressing to the semi-finals.
The matches will take place across two primary venues: Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. While there are no reserve days for the group stage, the semi-finals and final have reserved days to ensure the matches reach a fair conclusion.
Schedule Highlights
The tournament kicks off on October 3 with Bangladesh facing Scotland in the opener at Sharjah. On the same day, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the second match at the same venue. Here are some of the key fixtures:
- October 4: India vs New Zealand in Dubai
- October 6: The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in Dubai
- October 13: India faces Australia in Sharjah
The semi-finals will be held on October 17 and 18, with the final scheduled for October 20 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Teams to Watch
- Australia: The defending champions, Australia, continue to be the team to beat. With a well-rounded squad and a history of dominance in women’s cricket, they enter the tournament as favorites. Star players like Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy will be crucial to their success.
- India: After narrowly missing out on a title in previous years, India is hungry for victory. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, they will rely on the prowess of players like Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The clash against Pakistan is always a spectacle, and their game against Australia will be another match to watch closely.
- England: Another powerhouse in women’s cricket, England has been consistent in global tournaments. Their group match against South Africa on October 7 promises to be an exciting encounter, as both teams aim for a strong start.
- Pakistan: Under the leadership of Bismah Maroof, Pakistan will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by Diana Baig, is expected to pose a serious challenge to top teams.
Warm-up Matches
Before the main event kicks off, there will be 10 warm-up matches held from September 28 to October 1 across Dubai. These matches will provide valuable match practice for the teams, helping them fine-tune their strategies ahead of the tournament. Although these warm-up games do not carry official status, they are vital for teams to experiment with their lineups and assess conditions in the UAE.
Some key warm-up matches include:
- India vs West Indies on September 29 at ICC Academy Ground, Dubai
- Australia vs England on October 1 at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
- Pakistan vs Bangladesh on October 1 at ICC Academy Ground, Dubai
Venue Insights
The UAE, with its modern facilities and state-of-the-art stadiums, is well-equipped to host the Women’s T20 World Cup. Both Dubai and Sharjah are known for their cricketing infrastructure, offering an international cricketing atmosphere that is second to none. Dubai International Stadium, with a capacity of 25,000, will host the majority of the marquee matches, including the final. Meanwhile, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with a capacity of 16,000, will host 11 matches, including some high-profile games like India vs Australia.