Women's Asia Cup 2026 Schedule Announced; India to Face Pakistan on September 5
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially confirmed the schedule for the 2026 Women's Asia Cup, with the tournament set to begin on August 28 in Dubai. Featuring eight teams, the competition will conclude with the final on September 13, while the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled for September 5.
The tournament returns in the T20 format, with all matches to be played under lights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India and Pakistan Headline the Group Stage
As expected, the meeting between India and Pakistan is set to be the standout fixture of the group stage.
The two rivals have been drawn together in Group A, alongside Thailand and Hong Kong China. Their meeting on September 5 is expected to attract significant attention, with both teams aiming to secure a place in the knockout stages.
The tournament will get underway on August 28 with Hong Kong China taking on Thailand in the opening match.
Sri Lanka Begin Title Defence
Defending champions Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B, where they will face Bangladesh, hosts United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
One of the key early fixtures in the group sees Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh on September 6, in what could prove decisive in the race for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka enter the competition after lifting the trophy in the previous edition, while Bangladesh remain the only other side besides India to have won the Women's Asia Cup in the T20 era.
Tournament Format Explained
The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups of four.
Each team will play the other sides in its group once, with the top two teams from each pool progressing to the semi-finals.
The knockout schedule is as follows:
- Semi-final 1: September 10 (Group A winners vs Group B runners-up)
- Semi-final 2: September 11 (Group B winners vs Group A runners-up)
- Final: September 13
All matches are scheduled to be played in the evening under floodlights.
India Eye Fourth Women's Asia Cup Title
India head into the tournament as the most successful team in Women's Asia Cup history.
The Women in Blue have won the title three times in the T20 format and will once again begin among the favourites alongside defending champions Sri Lanka.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and an improving Thailand side will also be hoping to challenge for a place in the final as women's cricket continues to grow across Asia.
Why This Matters
The Women's Asia Cup is one of the biggest events on the international women's cricket calendar and provides valuable preparation ahead of future ICC tournaments.
For India and Pakistan, the September 5 clash will once again be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament, while Sri Lanka will be looking to prove that last edition's triumph was no one-off.
With all matches taking place at a single venue in Dubai, fans can expect nearly three weeks of high-quality T20 cricket featuring the region's best teams.
Women's Asia Cup 2026 Groups
Group A
- India
- Pakistan
- Thailand
- Hong Kong China
Group B
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- United Arab Emirates
- Indonesia
