Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20: Schedule, India Squad, Pakistan Clash and Latest Updates

Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20: India Schedule and Squad

The Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20 tournament has arrived, bringing eight Asian teams together in Dubai for a short but high-stakes battle for the continental title.

The 10th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup began on August 28, with the tournament being played entirely in the T20I format. A total of 15 matches are scheduled, with the final set to be played on September 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Thailand have already made the first statement of the competition, beating Hong Kong, China by six runs in the opening match. India will begin its campaign on August 30 against Thailand, before facing Hong Kong, China and then Pakistan in the group stage.

IND-W vs SL-W Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Final Live Score

Pakistan Women vs India Women Standings 2026: Final Table

For Indian cricket fans, the biggest date is already clear: September 5, when India and Pakistan meet in Dubai.

India enter the tournament as the most successful team in Women’s Asia Cup history, while Sri Lanka arrive as the defending champions after winning the previous edition in 2024.

Women’s Asia Cup Stats 2026: Most Runs, Most Wickets, Highest Scores & H2H Records

India Women’s National Cricket Team vs Hong Kong Women’s National Cricket Team Standings

India Under 19 Squad 2026 Latest Update

India May Send B Team to Asian Games?

WTC Points Table 2026 Latest News

Aiman Anwer International Retirement Latest Update

Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20: What is the format?

The 2026 competition is being played as a T20I tournament, rather than a 50-over event.

Eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. Each side will play three group matches, with the top two teams from each group moving into the semi-finals.

That format makes every group match important.

A team cannot afford to lose several games and expect to recover later because there are only three opportunities to collect points before the knockout stage.

Group A

Group B

The semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11, followed by the final on September 13.

First-Ever ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 Venue Announced: India Named Host as Mumbai, Vadodara Confirmed

Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20 schedule

The tournament began on August 28 and continues until September 13.

All 15 matches are being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, giving teams the chance to become familiar with the same conditions throughout the competition.

Full tournament schedule

The schedule and timings are based on the published tournament fixture list.

India Women’s Asia Cup 2026 T20 schedule

India’s campaign begins on August 30 against Thailand.

The team then faces Hong Kong, China on September 3 before the much-anticipated India-Pakistan contest two days later.

India’s group-stage matches are:

All three matches are scheduled for 8:00 PM IST.

India’s route to the semi-finals therefore looks straightforward on paper, but the team will still need consistent performances across all three matches.

India squad for Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20

India will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain.

The squad includes a mixture of experienced international players and younger cricketers who have been given opportunities in recent months.

The 15-player squad is:

• Harmanpreet Kaur — Captain
• Smriti Mandhana — Vice-Captain
• Shafali Verma
• Bharti Fulmali
• Deepti Sharma
• Richa Ghosh — Wicketkeeper
• G. Kamalini — Wicketkeeper
• Arundhati Reddy
• Prema Rawat
• Radha Yadav
• Sree Charani
• Renuka Thakur
• Nandni Sharma
• Kranti Gaud
• Pratika Rawal

The squad was changed after Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out with a high-grade right hamstring injury. Pratika Rawal was named as her replacement.

Jemimah Rodrigues ruled out, Pratika Rawal returns

One of the biggest changes to India’s plans is the absence of Jemimah Rodrigues.

The BCCI confirmed that Rodrigues suffered a high-grade right hamstring tear while playing in The Hundred on August 3. She was subsequently ruled out of both the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games.

Pratika Rawal has therefore been brought into the Asia Cup squad.

Her inclusion gives India another batting option, but it also leaves the team management with an important question: how should the middle order be structured without Jemimah?

That decision could become important during the T20 tournament, especially against stronger bowling attacks.

Harmanpreet Kaur and India’s title ambition

India have a huge history in the Women’s Asia Cup.

They have won seven of the nine previous editions, making them the most successful team in the competition.

However, Sri Lanka broke India’s dominance in the most recent edition.

Sri Lanka defeated India in the 2024 final to claim the trophy, which means India now have another opportunity to regain the title.

Harmanpreet Kaur has therefore entered this tournament with considerable expectations.

For India, simply reaching the knockout stage is unlikely to be viewed as the ultimate objective.

The expectation will be to win the trophy.

India vs Pakistan: September 5 blockbuster

The biggest group-stage fixture of the Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20 will be India vs Pakistan.

The match is scheduled for September 5 at 8:00 PM IST in Dubai.

Both teams are in Group A alongside Thailand and Hong Kong, China.

That means India and Pakistan will meet before the knockout stage.

The result could have a major impact on the group standings, especially if both sides have already won their earlier matches.

There is also a possibility of another meeting later in the competition.

If both teams reach the final, they could face each other again on September 13.

Pakistan’s challenge for India

Pakistan will be captained by Fatima Sana.

The Pakistan squad contains several familiar names, including Muneeba Ali, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Tuba Hassan and Nashra Sundhu.

Pakistan are also in the same group as India, which makes their September 5 match particularly important.

Their group-stage schedule begins with Thailand on September 1, followed by India on September 5 and Hong Kong, China on September 7.

Pakistan will therefore have two matches to build momentum before facing India.

Thailand have already started strongly

Thailand are not entering the India match without experience in the tournament.

They played the opening game against Hong Kong, China and won by six runs.

That victory could be valuable because Thailand have already experienced the Dubai conditions and handled a close match successfully.

India will still be favourites against Thailand because of the difference in squad depth and international experience.

But Thailand’s opening victory means they should not be underestimated.

Sri Lanka defend their title

Sri Lanka begin the tournament as defending champions.

Their title defence starts against the United Arab Emirates on August 29.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Indonesia make up Group B.

Sri Lanka’s recent history makes them one of the teams India will want to avoid underestimating.

They have already shown that they can beat India in a major Women’s Asia Cup final.

Indonesia make their Women’s Asia Cup debut

One of the fresh stories of the 2026 tournament is Indonesia’s participation.

Indonesia are making their debut at the Women’s Asia Cup, entering a competition that includes several established international teams.

Their matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and UAE will give their players experience at a much higher level.

For women’s cricket in Indonesia, simply competing in this tournament is a significant step.

Which teams are favourites?

India are naturally among the strongest contenders.

Their seven Asia Cup titles give them the best historical record, while their squad includes players with considerable international experience.

Sri Lanka should also be taken seriously because they are the defending champions.

Pakistan remain dangerous in T20 cricket and will have plenty of motivation ahead of the India clash.

Bangladesh could also make the knockout race interesting.

The short format means that one outstanding individual performance can change a match, so predicting the final four with certainty is difficult.

What could decide India’s campaign?

There are several areas that could determine whether India regain the trophy.

Opening partnership

Smriti Mandhana and India’s other top-order options will need to provide fast starts without losing early wickets.

Middle-order balance

Jemimah Rodrigues’ absence means India have to settle on a new combination.

Pratika Rawal’s inclusion gives the management another option.

Spin attack

Dubai conditions can make spinners important, and India have several quality options available.

Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat and Sree Charani give Harmanpreet different combinations.

Death bowling

Renuka Thakur and Arundhati Reddy will be among the options India can use with the new ball and at the back end of innings.

Women’s Asia Cup 2026 T20 points race

Because there are only three group matches for each team, the points table could become extremely important.

A strong start can put a team in control of qualification, while two defeats could make the semi-final race almost impossible.

India’s ideal route would be to win all three group matches.

That would not only guarantee a strong position but also allow the team to enter the knockout stage with confidence.

Where is Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 being played?

The entire tournament is being staged at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

All 15 matches are scheduled at the same venue, from the opening game through to the September 13 final.

For teams, familiarity with the pitch and outfield could become increasingly important as the tournament progresses.

The weather and evening conditions could also influence how captains approach the toss and whether they prefer batting first or chasing.

Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20 live streaming

For viewers in India, the tournament is being broadcast on Sony Sports Network, with streaming available through SonyLIV, according to published broadcast information.

Viewers outside India should check their local broadcasters because rights differ by territory.

What happens after the group stage?

The top two teams from Group A and Group B will qualify for the semi-finals.

The first semi-final is scheduled for September 10.

The second semi-final will take place on September 11.

The winners will meet in the final on September 13.

This means the eventual champion needs to navigate the group stage and then win two knockout matches.

Why this T20 Asia Cup matters

The Women’s Asia Cup is more than a regional tournament.

It provides teams with high-level competitive matches and gives younger players an opportunity to establish themselves.

For India, it is also part of a busy period in the women’s cricket calendar.

The team has already had to deal with injuries and selection changes, while the Asia Cup also comes ahead of the Asian Games in Japan.

That makes squad management particularly important.

The bigger picture for women’s cricket in Asia

One of the most encouraging aspects of the 2026 tournament is the variety of teams involved.

India and Sri Lanka have long been among the region’s strongest sides.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are established competitors.

Thailand and UAE continue to build their women’s cricket programmes.

Hong Kong, China are also part of the tournament, while Indonesia are appearing for the first time.

The wider the competition becomes, the more opportunities there are for women’s cricket to develop across Asia.

Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20: What to watch next

The immediate focus is on India’s opening match.

August 30 — India vs Thailand

That match will tell us how Harmanpreet Kaur’s team has settled on its batting combination following Jemimah Rodrigues’ absence.

Then comes:

September 3 — India vs Hong Kong, China

And the biggest group-stage contest:

September 5 — India vs Pakistan

If India reach the knockout stage, the semi-final could come on September 10 or 11, depending on the final group standings.

The final is scheduled for September 13.

Final verdict

The Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20 has started with eight teams, 15 matches and one trophy to fight for.

Thailand have already opened the tournament with a six-run win over Hong Kong, China, while India are preparing to begin their campaign against Thailand on August 30.

India remain the most successful side in Women’s Asia Cup history with seven titles, but Sri Lanka are the defending champions after their 2024 triumph.

For Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, the biggest challenge will be finding the right balance after Jemimah Rodrigues’ injury. Pratika Rawal has been added to the squad, giving India another option in the batting department.

Then comes the match every Indian and Pakistani cricket fan will have circled on the calendar.

India vs Pakistan — September 5, 8:00 PM IST, Dubai.

If both teams navigate Group A successfully, the possibility of another meeting in the final remains open.

That combination of India’s title ambitions, Sri Lanka’s defence, Pakistan’s challenge and the emergence of newer teams makes the Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 T20 one of the most interesting women’s cricket tournaments of the year.

FAQs

Is Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 a T20 tournament?

Yes. The 2026 Women’s Asia Cup is being played in the T20I format.

When does India play its first match?

India will play Thailand on August 30, 2026, at 8:00 PM IST in Dubai.

When is India vs Pakistan in Women’s Asia Cup 2026?

India and Pakistan will meet on September 5 at 8:00 PM IST in Dubai.

Who is India’s captain?

Harmanpreet Kaur is India’s captain, while Smriti Mandhana is the vice-captain.

Who replaced Jemimah Rodrigues?

Pratika Rawal was named as Jemimah Rodrigues’ replacement after Rodrigues was ruled out with a high-grade hamstring tear.

Who are the defending champions?

Sri Lanka are the defending champions after winning the 2024 edition.

How many teams are playing?

Eight teams are participating in the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup.

Where are all the matches being played?

All 15 matches are scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

When is the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final?

The final is scheduled for September 13, 2026.

How many times has India won the Women’s Asia Cup?

India have won seven of the nine previous editions, making them the most successful team in the competition.