The Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 will be played in Dubai from August 28 to September 13, with India facing Pakistan on September 5 in the tournament’s marquee group-stage clash.
Eight teams have been divided into two groups. The top two sides from each group will advance to the semi-finals, while the final will be played on September 13.
Dubai: The Asian Cricket Council has announced the structure and key fixtures for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026, which will be staged entirely at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The tournament will begin on August 28 with Thailand taking on Hong Kong. India will start their campaign against Thailand on August 30 before facing Hong Kong on September 3 and arch-rivals Pakistan on September 5.
All matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM local UAE time, which corresponds to 8:00 PM IST. The entire tournament will be played under lights.
India vs Pakistan on September 5 is expected to be the headline fixture of the group stage, while the top two teams from each group will move into the knockout rounds.
Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 Groups
Group A
- India
- Pakistan
- Thailand
- Hong Kong
Group B
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- United Arab Emirates
- Indonesia
Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule
The group stage will consist of 12 matches, with each team playing the other three sides in its group once.
| Match | Date | Fixture | Group | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | August 28, 2026 | Thailand vs Hong Kong | Group A | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 2 | August 29, 2026 | Sri Lanka vs UAE | Group B | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 3 | August 30, 2026 | India vs Thailand | Group A | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 4 | August 31, 2026 | Bangladesh vs Indonesia | Group B | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 5 | September 1, 2026 | Pakistan vs Thailand | Group A | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 6 | September 2, 2026 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Group B | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 7 | September 3, 2026 | India vs Hong Kong | Group A | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 8 | September 4, 2026 | UAE vs Indonesia | Group B | 8:00 PM IST | Match 9 | September 5, 2026 | India vs Pakistan | Group A | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 10 | September 6, 2026 | Bangladesh vs UAE | Group B | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 11 | September 7, 2026 | Pakistan vs Hong Kong | Group A | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 12 | September 8, 2026 | Sri Lanka vs Indonesia | Group B | 8:00 PM IST |
Knockout Stage Schedule
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. Group winners will face the runners-up from the opposite group.
| Match | Date | Fixture | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 13 | September 10, 2026 | Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up | Semi-Final 1 | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 14 | September 11, 2026 | Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up | Semi-Final 2 | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 15 | September 13, 2026 | Semi-Final 1 Winner vs Semi-Final 2 Winner | Final | 8:00 PM IST |
India Women’s 15-Member Squad
India will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. The squad combines experienced internationals with several emerging players.
Travelling Reserves
- Pratika Rawal
- Uma Chetry – Wicket-keeper
- Vaishnavi Sharma
- Sayali Satghare
- Minnu Mani
Shreyanka Patil Misses the Tournament
Spinner Shreyanka Patil has not been included as she continues to recover from an ankle injury. Her absence leaves India without one of their most promising young spin-bowling options for the continental tournament.
The team will instead look to the experience of Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav, while younger players such as Prema Rawat and Sree Charani could be given important roles during the competition.
Young Players Included in India’s Squad
India’s selection reflects a balance between continuity and long-term planning. Prema Rawat retains her place, while G. Kamalini and Kranti Gaud have been included in the main squad.
The tournament offers these players an opportunity to gain experience in a high-pressure multi-team competition while playing alongside established names such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.
Yastika Bhatia Among the Notable Omissions
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has missed out on selection. India have chosen Richa Ghosh and G. Kamalini as the two wicketkeeping options in the main squad, while Uma Chetry has been named among the travelling reserves.
India vs Pakistan on September 5
The most anticipated match of the group stage will be played on September 5, when India face Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The fixture is likely to attract the largest television and streaming audience of the tournament. With both sides placed in Group A, the result could also have a major impact on qualification for the semi-finals.
Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 Live Streaming and TV Broadcast
The broadcast and digital streaming rights in India belong to Sony Pictures Networks India. All 15 matches are scheduled to be shown live as part of the network’s wider sports programming campaign.
Expected television feeds include Sony Sports Ten 1 and Ten 1 HD for English commentary, Sony Sports Ten 3 and Ten 3 HD for Hindi commentary, and Sony Sports Ten 4 for regional audio options including Tamil and Telugu.
All Matches to Be Played Under Lights
The decision to schedule every match at 6:30 PM local time means the tournament will be played entirely under floodlights. This provides a consistent playing window while also offering prime-time television coverage for audiences in India.
Dubai’s conditions could place additional emphasis on spin bowling, fielding and the ability of batters to adjust to changing surfaces as the tournament progresses.
India Start Among the Leading Contenders
India will begin the tournament as one of the strongest contenders for the title. Their squad contains an experienced top order, multiple all-round options and a bowling attack featuring Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are expected to be the leading sides in Group B, while Pakistan will pose India’s biggest group-stage challenge in Group A.
Other participating nations are expected to finalise and announce their official tournament squads in the coming weeks.
With eight teams, 15 matches and a high-profile India-Pakistan contest, the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 is set to become one of the major women’s cricket events of the year.
The tournament begins on August 28 and concludes with the final in Dubai on September 13.
