The Asian Cricket Council has confirmed the schedule for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026, with Dubai set to host the entire tournament starting August 28. The eight-team event will open with a Group A fixture between Thailand and Hong Kong China.
Cricket fans across the region are circling one date in particular, September 5, when India takes on Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the tournament’s biggest draw.
Tournament Format and Groups
Eight teams have been split into two groups for this sixth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup T20. Group A includes India, Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong China. Sri Lanka, the defending champions, lead Group B alongside Bangladesh, UAE and Indonesia.
Each team will play the others in its group once during the league stage. The top two sides from each group then advance to the semi-finals.
Every single match of the tournament, right from the opener to the final, will be played under lights at the same venue, with matches starting at 6.30 pm local time.
Key Fixtures Leading Up to the Final
The action begins on August 28 with Thailand facing Hong Kong China, followed a day later by Sri Lanka’s clash with UAE. India starts its campaign against Thailand on August 30, before facing Hong Kong China on September 3.
Pakistan opens against Thailand on September 1 and meets Hong Kong China on September 7. The India-Pakistan match on September 5 sits right in the middle of the group stage and is expected to draw the biggest crowds and viewership numbers of the tournament. Group B also has its share of notable fixtures: Sri Lanka meets Bangladesh on September 6, while Bangladesh takes on UAE on September 8.
Once the group matches wrap up, the first semi-final will be played on September 10, followed by the second on September 11. The final is scheduled for September 13, again at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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Past Champions and What’s at Stake
India walks into this edition as the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having won the title three times: 2012, 2016 and 2022. Sri Lanka arrives as the defending champion after winning the last edition, while Bangladesh holds one title from 2018.
With the format switching entirely to T20 cricket since its earlier editions, the tournament has grown into one of the most closely watched women’s cricket events in Asia. Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, UAE and Indonesia round out the eight-team field, each hoping to disrupt the dominance of the three previous winners.
The India-Pakistan rivalry, always a major draw in cricket, adds extra weight to this year’s group stage and could play a decisive role in determining who tops Group A heading into the knockouts. All eyes will now turn to Dubai as teams begin preparations for a tournament that promises tight contests, sharp rivalries and a fight for regional supremacy in women’s T20 cricket.
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