The ninth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 is all set to get underway on July 19 in Sri Lanka and India will once again be the favourites for the title. Harmanpreet Kaur and her side are the defending champions as they look to retain the crown with the Asia Cup holding some extra significance this time. The tournament happens a couple of months before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and will act as the final chance for the teams to get their preparations in.
The tournament will also have 8 teams participating this time around and they will be split into 2 groups. India are in Group A along with Pakistan, Nepal and UAE while hosts Sri Lanka, former champions Bangladesh along with Malaysia and Thailand constitute Group B. India will have their first match against arch-rivals Pakistan on the opening day, which is expected to set the tone for the entire tournament.
Here’s a look at all the things you need to know about Women’s Asia Cup 2024:
FULL SQUADS
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan –
Travelling reserves: Shweta Sehrawat, Saika Ishaque, Tanuja Kanwer, Meghna Singh
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
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.
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.
Thailand: Thipatcha Putthawong (capt), Suwanan Khiaoto (wk), Nannapat Kocharoenkai (wk), Nattaya Boochatham, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Rosenan Kanoh, Phannita Maya, Chanida Sutthiruang, Suleeporn Laomi, Kanyakorn Bunthansen, Nannapat Chaihan, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi
Malaysia: Winifred Duraisingam (capt), Aina Najwa (wk), Elsa Hunter, Mas Elysa, Wan Julia (wk), Ainna Hamizah Hashim, Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Nur Arianna Natsya, Aisya Eleesa, Amalin Sorfina, Dhanusri Muhunan, Irdina Beh Nabil, Nur Aishah, Nur Izzatul Syafiqa, Suabika Manivannan.
Nepal: Indu Barma (capt), Sita Rana Magar, Rajmati Airee, Rubina Chhetry, Dolly Bhatta, Mamta Chaudhary, Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar, Kritika Marasini, Puja Mahato, Bindu Rawal, Roma Thapa, Sabnam Rai, Samnjana Khadka, Kajal Sreshtha (wk)
UAE: Esha Oza (capt), Theertha Satish (wk), Emily Thomas, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Lavanya Keny, Khushi Sharma, Indhuja Nandakumar, Rinitha Rajith, Rishitha Rajith, Vaishnave Mahesh, Suraksha Kotte, Heena Hotchandani, Mehak Thakur, Rithika Rajith.
Where will the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 take place?
The Women’s Asia Cup 2024 will be hosted entirely at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
What’s time span of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024?
The Women’s Asia Cup 2024 gets underway on Friday, 19 July with Nepal taking on United Arab Emirates in the opening clash, followed by the mouth-watering clash between India and Pakistan. The tournament will run for a little over a week, with the final scheduled to take place on Sunday, 28 July.
Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Full schedule
19 July: Nepal vs UAE (2 pm); India vs Pakistan (7 pm)
20 July: Malaysia vs Thailand (2 pm); Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (7 pm)
21 July: India vs UAE (2 pm); Nepal vs Pakistan (7 pm)
22 July: Sri Lanka vs Malaysia (2 pm); Bangladesh vs Thailand (7 pm)
23 July: Pakistan vs UAE (2 pm); India vs Nepal (7 pm)
24 July: Bangladesh vs Malaysia (2 pm); Sri Lanka vs Thailand (7 pm)
26 July: Semi-final 1 (2 pm); Semi-final 2 (7 pm)
28 July: Final (7 pm)
Where can I watch the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 live telecast?
The tournament will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network, with livestreaming available on Disney+ Hotstar.