The ninth edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup is set to kick off on October 3, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates, featuring 10 teams competing in 23 matches across two venues.
Participating Teams and Groups
The tournament is divided into two groups. Group A consists of Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Group B includes Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies. Scotland is making its debut appearance in the Womens T20 World Cup.
Group A
Australia, the reigning and six-time champions, are favorites to win again. India, runners-up in 2020, and New Zealand, two-time runners-up, are also strong contenders. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are looking to make their mark, though neither has reached a semi-final in previous editions.
Group B
Bangladesh, despite the tournament being moved from their home country due to political unrest, remains a participant. England, the inaugural champions, Scotland, making their debut, South Africa, who lost the final last year, and West Indies, the only team to beat Australia in a T20 World Cup final, complete the group.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The tournament follows a two-stage format. The group stage, running from October 3 to 15, involves a single round-robin where each team plays the other teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18. The winners of the semi-finals will meet in the final on October 20 in Dubai.
Key Matches and Players to Watch
One of the highly anticipated matches is between India and Pakistan on October 6 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Historically, India has dominated this fixture, winning 12 out of 15 T20 matches against Pakistan. Key players to watch include Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney from Australia, Smriti Mandhana from India, Chamari Athapaththu from Sri Lanka, and Sophie Ecclestone from England.
Venues and Broadcast Details
The matches will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament will be broadcast on various channels including Star Sports in India, Sky Sports in the UK, and Fox Sports in Australia.
Prize Money and Umpires
The total prize pool for the 2024 edition has been increased to $7,958,080, with the winners set to receive $2.34 million. The ICC has also named a 13-strong all-female panel of match officials, including experienced umpires like Claire Polosak and Sue Redfern.
Tickets and Trophy Tour
Tickets for the matches are affordable, starting at just five dirhams, with free entry for those under 18. The Women's T20 World Cup trophy has embarked on a tour across Dubai, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh before returning to the UAE.
