The 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, the ninth edition of the premier women's T20 cricket tournament, is set to kick off on October 3, 2024, and will run until October 20, 2024. Initially scheduled to be hosted in Bangladesh, the tournament was relocated to the United Arab Emirates due to political unrest in Bangladesh, although the Bangladesh Cricket Board retains the hosting rights.
Teams and Groups
The tournament features 10 top teams from around the globe, divided into two groups. Group A consists of Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while Group B includes South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland.
Group A
Group A is packed with strong contenders, including the defending champions Australia, who are aiming for their third straight title and seventh overall. India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is also a strong contender, having won their warm-up matches against the West Indies and South Africa. Other teams in this group include Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
Group B
Group B features England, who are seeking their first title since the inaugural edition in 2009, along with South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh, and newcomers Scotland. Scotland, led by captain Kathryn Bryce, will be looking to make a significant impact in their first appearance in the tournament.
Schedule and Key Matches
The tournament begins on October 3, 2024, with the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland in Sharjah. Key matches include India vs. New Zealand on October 4, the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash on October 6, and India vs. Sri Lanka on October 9. India's final group match is against Australia on October 13 in Sharjah.
Other notable matches include Australia vs. New Zealand on October 10, England vs. South Africa on October 5, and the final group stage match between England and West Indies on October 12. The semi-finals will see the top two teams from each group compete, with the winners advancing to the final on October 20 in Dubai.
Broadcast and Coverage
All matches of the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, ensuring global coverage for cricket fans around the world.
Player Highlights
The tournament will feature several standout players, including Australia's Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath, India's Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, and Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Shabnim Ismail, along with England's star players, will also be key to their teams' success.
The competition promises to be intense, with each team playing the other teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group will then proceed to the semi-finals, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
For more detailed information on the schedule, teams, and player profiles, you can visit the Wikipedia page on the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
