The ICC Women's T20 World Cup is all set to begin today, 3rd October 2024 in the United Arab Emirates and conclude on 20 October 2024. This is the ninth edition of the tournament featuring 10 qualified teams divided into two groups, with the top two teams qualifying for the finals competing for the ultimate ICC Trophy.
The mega tournament was supposed to be held in Bangladesh that was officially declared on 5 May 2024 but due to political unrest after a grievance situation where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid stepped down from the constituency, the International Cricket Council (ICC) relocated the tournament in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
10 teams will compete in 23 matches over 18 days at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium during T20 WC 2024. The tournament will feature 10 teams divided into two groups:
Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland
Teams will play four group-stage matches across two venues, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals.
Schedule for India’s matches during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
4 October, India vs New Zealand, Dubai, 7:30 PM
6 October, India vs Pakistan, Dubai, 3:30 PM
9 October, India vs Sri Lanka, Dubai, 7:30 PM
13 October, India vs Australia, Sharjah, 7:30 PM
17 October, Semi-final 1, Dubai, 7:30 PM
18 October, Semi-final 2, Sharjah, 7:30 PM
20 October, Final, Dubai, 7:30 PM
Team India Squad for ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia* (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil*, and Sajana Sajeevan.
Travel Reserves: Uma Chetry, Tanuja Kanwer, and Saima Thakor
Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra
Teams Dominated during Warm-Up Matches
Amol Mazumdar, Head Coach of Team India Women has provided rigorous training for the women's team during a 10-day camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where he declared a fully fit squad including backup players. After the training sessions, warm-up matches for the exhilarating tournament were organized from 28 September 2024 to 1 October 2024 where Teams India, Australia, and New Zealand dominated the ICC Women's T20 World Cup warm-up matches, showcasing their strong form ahead of the main tournament. India has shown solid performances against teams like West Indies and South Africa, while Australia and New Zealand have demonstrated competitive strength. These warm-up victories set the stage for an exciting and closely contested World Cup.
According to Women's Selection Committee Chairperson, Neetu David the Indian women's cricket team has been preparing for T20 WC in UAE with sports psychologists in order to enhance mental toughness during the preparatory camps.
Where to Watch T20 World Cup 2024
The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 will be broadcast on Star Sports Network in India and live-streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to offer identical prize money for the event to women players as they offer to men's teams, marking the first time in history. The winners will receive USD 2.34 million, a 134 per cent increase from the previous edition showcasing gender parity.
The tournament will see former Indian skipper Mithali Raj as part of the commentary team for the tournament. She will be in the August company of Mel Jones, Lisa Sthalekar, Stacy Ann King, Lydia Greenway, and Carlos Brathwaite. The rest of the broadcasting line-up includes heavyweights such as Anjum Chopra, Katey Martin, Sana Mir, WV Raman, Natalie Germanos, Ian Bishop, Kass Naidoo, Nasser Hussain, Alison Mitchell, and Mpumelelo Mbangwa.
