Women's Asia Cup 2024: Key contests, the return of Nepal, and everything else
Here's everything you need to know about the eight-team Women's Asia Cup 2024, to be played from July 19 in Dambulla
India, the defending champions, have won the tournament seven times (out of eight) • Asian Cricket Council
The tournament is being staged from July 19 to 28 and all the matches will be held in Dambulla in Sri Lanka. There will be a total of 15 matches: 12 group games, two semi-finals and a final. The group-stage games will be held from July 19 to 24, with two games every day. The two semi-finals will be held on July 26 with the final on July 28.
Yes, the biggest change is that the tournament this year will have eight teams, one more than the previous edition. As a result, unlike last time when all the teams played each other once before the semi-final, this time the teams have been split into two groups.
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Not really, but it is their first time since 2016. They qualified by virtue of being semi-finalists at the Women's Premier Cup 2024, which was held in February this year. UAE, Malaysia and Thailand were the other three teams to qualify from that event.
Of course there is - how can there not be one? At least one? It will be the most followed contest for sure, though there is a big gulf between the two sides - it's 11-3 to India in the format. That said, Pakistan beat India by 13 runs last time. This time, India vs Pakistan is on the opening day itself, on July 19. Nepal and UAE will kickstart the tournament in the afternoon game before India and Pakistan play in the evening. Sri Lanka will start their tournament in an evening game on July 20 against Bangladesh and that should be a close contest too.
There are not a lot of changes, actually. India are still led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Sri Lanka by Chamari Athapaththu, Bangladesh by Nigar Sultana, and Malaysia by Winifred Duraisingam. But there are changes. With Bismah Maroof having retired, Nida Dar will captain Pakistan. For Thailand, regular captain Naruemol Chaiwai, the captain in the 2022 tournament, is out with an injury, so 20-year-old Thipatcha Putthawong is standing in. UAE will be captained by 26-year-old batter Esha Oza.
It is tough to look beyond India, the premier side in the region. They are the defending champions and have lifted the trophy the most times: seven. The only other team to have won the trophy - ever - are Bangladesh, back in 2018, and they might be the toughest opponents for India this time too.
India breezed through to add another Asia Cup title to their already stuffed cabinet. They started with a 41-run victory against Sri Lanka and then registered comfortable wins against Malaysia and UAE. The only blemish came against Pakistan, but with five wins in six games - and a superior NRR - they qualified for the semi-finals by topping the points table. There they beat Thailand by 74 runs before beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final.
The tournament, like last year, will feature an all-female team of match officials. In addition, SLC has also announced that the entry for fans will be free.
India: Star Sports & Disney+ Hotstar
Nepal & Bhutan - Star Sports
Bangladesh - Gazi & T Sports
Sri Lanka - Supreme TV
Rest of the World - ACC YouTube channel
Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo