The highly anticipated ninth edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup is set to begin on October 3, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This exciting tournament will feature ten teams competing in 23 matches, culminating in the final on October 20.
The tournament opener will see Bangladesh take on debutants Scotland. Matches will be played at two premier venues in the UAE: Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Stadium. Commenting on the conditions, England all-rounder Freya Kemp said, "The two venues can be quite different. It will be a case of who assesses the conditions quickest and adapts the best."
Australia, winners of the last three World Cups, will aim to adapt quickly to continue their dominance and secure a fourth consecutive title. The team, led by new captain Alyssa Healy, boasts an impressive lineup with players like Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield adding strength to their core. However, Healy said, "There are no real expectations on our group this time around, but I expect it to be a really tough tournament. All 10 teams have a shot to win it."
One of the standout matches will be Australia's Group A clash against India on October 13 in Sharjah. The teams previously faced off in the 2020 final at the MCG, where over 80,000 spectators witnessed the action. This time, India will look to challenge Australia with spin bowling from Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil.
Another exciting encounter will be the India vs Pakistan match on October 6 in Dubai. Group A also features a high-profile match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, a rematch of their recent Asia Cup semi-final. New Zealand, ranked No. 3 in the world, rounds out the group.
In Group B, South Africa is considered one of the top contenders after reaching the final on home soil two years ago. Captain Laura Wolvaardt said, "Reaching our first-ever World Cup final in 2023 was a big landmark moment for us. Now we'd like to go that one step further and lift the trophy." South Africa's match against England on October 7 is expected to be another highlight of the tournament.
Group B also includes Bangladesh, who are equipped with several spinners, the West Indies, and first-time participants Scotland. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for October 17 and 18 in Dubai and Sharjah.
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