Pakistan in same group with India for Women’s T20 World Cup

In a thrilling announcement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the fixtures and groupings for the highly-anticipated Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday. Pakistan Women find themselves in Group A, alongside arch-rivals India and six-time champions Australia, as they prepare for the ninth edition of the tournament, now set to be hosted in the UAE.

Australia, the reigning champions who clinched victory in the 2020 edition with a commanding 85-run win over India, will be defending their title this October. Pakistan’s campaign kicks off on October 3 against Sri Lanka, with a much-anticipated clash against India slated for October 6.

Originally scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, the tournament was relocated to the UAE due to political unrest and a students’ uprising in the South Asian nation. Dubai and Sharjah will now host all matches throughout October, ensuring a secure environment for the world’s top women cricketers.

The tournament structure remains unchanged, with Australia headlining Group A alongside 2020 finalists India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Group B features South Africa, England, 2016 champions West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland, who qualified through the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

Each team will play four group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals, scheduled for October 17 and 18. The final will be held in Dubai on October 20, with reserve days available for both the semi-finals and the final.

Should India progress, they will compete in Semi-final 1, further heightening the excitement surrounding the tournament. In total, 23 matches will be contested across the two venues in Dubai and Sharjah.

Before the tournament’s official start, 10 warm-up matches will be played from September 28 to October 1, providing teams with crucial preparation ahead of the main event.

Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland

The stage is set for a memorable Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE as the world’s top teams battle for glory in one of cricket’s most prestigious tournaments.