Dubai to host Women’s Asia Cup 2026 with eight teams competing

By Priya Menon — 28 August 2026 — 5 min read

The 10th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup is scheduled to commence in Dubai on Friday, featuring eight teams in the T20I format. The tournament is set to conclude on September 13, with all 15 matches taking place in Dubai.

The participating teams have been divided into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Group B consists of defending champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the UAE, and Indonesia.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. These two semi-final matches are slated for September 10 and September 11, leading up to the final on September 13. Sri Lanka will aim to defend their title, while India seeks to regain the trophy. Pakistan and Bangladesh are also among the Full Members participating, alongside Associate teams Thailand, Hong Kong, the UAE, and Indonesia.

Tournament Structure and Key Matches

The group stage of the tournament will feature one match daily, continuing until September 8. This phase includes 12 group-stage matches, followed by the two semi-finals and the final. All matches are scheduled to begin at 8 pm IST.

A significant fixture in the group stage will be the clash between India and Pakistan on September 5. India has a record of winning 14 out of 17 T20I meetings against Pakistan. Another notable match in Group B will see Sri Lanka face Bangladesh on September 6. Sri Lanka has won 13 of their 16 T20I meetings against Bangladesh.

India will start their campaign against Thailand on August 30, followed by matches against Hong Kong and Pakistan. Their encounter with Pakistan on September 5 is anticipated to be a highlight of India’s group stage.

The Associate teams, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE, secured their spots in the Asia Cup through the 2026 Women’s Premier Cup. This competition involved 18 teams, with the four qualified teams topping their respective groups and winning their quarter-final matches. Indonesia will be making its first appearance in the Asia Cup, while Hong Kong returns for the first time since 2012.

Broadcast and Commentary Details

For viewers in India, the tournament will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network television channels. Live streaming will also be available through the SonyLIV app and website.

The coverage will include a panel of former international cricketers and experts. This panel is led by former India captain Mithali Raj, and also features former India captain and ICC Hall of Famer Anjum Chopra. Other former India players on the panel include Veda Krishnamurthy, Reema Malhotra, Niranjana Nagarajan, and Sunitha Anand. Former India women’s cricket team coach W.V. Raman is also part of the expert lineup.

The commentary will be offered in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. The English panel includes Annesha Ghosh, Veda Krishnamurthy, Sana Mir, Marina Iqbal, Charvi Bhatt, Ahmed Raza, Mazhar Uddin, and former Sri Lanka cricketer Farveez Maharoof.

Hindi commentary will feature Reema Malhotra, Vivek Razdan, Atish Thukral, Nishad Pai Vaidya, Paul Valthaty, Yash Pathak, Juili Ballal, and Gargi Raut. The Tamil team includes W.V. Raman, Niranjana Nagarajan, Shailaja Sunder, and Sai Raaghul. Telugu coverage will be provided by Keerthi Vishwanadha, Sunitha Anand, Hari Kishore Maladi, Akhilesh G, and Surya Pranav. Kannada commentary will be handled by Sahana Pawar, Sharath HS, and Dhanush Lavanya.

The network’s studio show, Extraaa Innings, will serve as the central hub for the tournament’s analysis. Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, W.V. Raman, Reema Malhotra, Tanya Purohit, and Gargi Raut are scheduled to be part of the studio line-up, offering pre-match analysis, mid-innings insights, and post-match reviews.

Squads for the Women’s Asia Cup

The participating teams have announced their squads for the tournament:

• Hong Kong Squad: Natasha Miles (c), Maryam Bibi, Chan Ka Ying, Chan Sau Ha, Chan Shing Yan Dorothea, Iqra Sahar, Joyleen Kaur, Mahekdeep Kaur, Mariko Hill, Marina Lamplough, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Shanzeen Shahzad, Siu Mei Wai, Wong Wing Kiu Hailey, Yasmin Daswani.
• India Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal.
• Thailand Squad: Naruemol Chaiwai (c), Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Natthakan Chantham, Chanida Sutthiruang, Suleeporn Laomi, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Thipatcha Putthawong, Phannita Maya, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Nannaphat Chaihan, Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Thanrada Seesawan, Naomi Hamilton.
• Pakistan Squad: Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Sadaf Shamas, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar.
• Bangladesh Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc), Dilara Akter, Farjana Easmin, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sarmin Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla.
• Indonesia Squad: Nanda Sakarini (c), Kadek Winda Prastini, Rahmawati Pangestuti, Wesika Ratna Dewi, Rada Rani, Desi Wulandari, Putri Suwandewi, Kisi Salisa Kasse, Sang Maypriani, Ni Kadek Ariani, Derni Bangi, Dara Agung Laksmi, Lie Qiao, Maria Corazon Wombaki, Sofia Velic.
• Sri Lanka Squad: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Mithali Ayodhya, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Sanjana Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Meepage, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Hasini Perera, Chamudi Praboda, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Chethana Vimukthi.
• UAE Squad: Esha Oza (c), Archara Supriya, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Uttara Iyer, Vaishnave Mahesh.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on August 28 with Thailand playing Hong Kong.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com