Extended Women's Asia Cup to be played in Dambulla from July 19

The 2024 women's Asia Cup will be played in Dambulla from July 19 to 28, in the T20 format. It will be an eight-team affair, featuring one extra team than the previous edition, with hosts Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the big teams, joined by UAE, Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia, the semi-finalists of the Women's Premier Cup 2024. In contrast to last time, when all groups played each other once before the semi-finals, this year they will be parted into two gatherings. India join Pakistan, UAE and Nepal in Gathering, some time Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia opening into Gathering B. The India versus Pakistan game is booked for July 21. The main two groups from each gathering will then highlight in the semi-finals on July 26, preceding the title conflict on July 28. Asian Cricket Board (ACC) president, Jay Shah, said of the competition's extension: "We are eager to see the expanded interest and seriousness among the groups, mirroring the developing notoriety and significance of ladies' cricket. This development, from six groups in 2018 to seven out of 2022, and presently eight, is a demonstration of our obligation to the ladies' down and the expanding ability pool in Asian cricket." An ACC explanation additionally affirmed that, similar to the past version, held in Sylhet, this competition will highlight just female umpires. The Asia Cup will act as a trial run for groups driving into the T20 World Cup that is booked to be played in Bangladesh beginning in September. At the Asia Cup, India are reigning champs and the best group, with seven title wins. Beginning around 2012, the competition has been played in the T20 design, ordinarily once in two years, however in 2020 - during the pandemic - the competition was first delayed and afterward dropped. This year, the later piece of the Asia Cup will conflict with the beginning of the Ladies' Hundred contest in Britain, which starts on July 23. That could influence the support of Smriti Mandhana (Southern Valiant), Chamari Athapaththu (Oval Invincibles) and Richa Ghosh (Birmingham Phoenix) for their Hundred groups. Women's Asia Cup 2024 schedule Jul 19, Pak vs Nep, Ind vs UAE Jul 20, Mal vs Tha, SL vs Ban Jul 21, Nep vs UAE, Ind vs Pak Jul 22, SL vs Mal, Ban vs Tha Jul 23, Pak vs UAE, Ind vs Nep Jul 24, Ban vs Mal, SL vs Tha Jul 26, semi-finals Jul 28, final