The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: A New Chapter in Women’s Cricket
The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup promises to be a spectacular celebration of women’s cricket, bringing together the best international talent in the fast-paced, action-packed format of T20 cricket. Scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 3 to October 20, the tournament marks the ninth edition of the event, moving out of its original venue in Bangladesh due to logistical and political challenges. This global sporting event will showcase the rising prominence of women’s cricket and highlight the UAE’s growing stature as a cricketing hub(
The Road to UAE: A Change of Venue
Originally scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh, the ICC made the decision to shift the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup to the UAE after consultations with various international bodies and teams. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) retained the hosting rights, but travel advisories and internal logistical difficulties led to the change of venue
The UAE, a country with world-class cricket infrastructure, is no stranger to hosting high-profile international tournaments. It co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021 and numerous other international cricketing events, making it a fitting venue for this major women’s tournament. The matches will take place at two iconic venues: the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Participating Teams and Groups
The 2024 edition features ten teams, split into two groups of five, representing a mix of established powerhouses and emerging nations in women’s cricket.
- Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Group B: Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland
The group stage will follow a single round-robin format, with each team playing the others in their group once. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals, which will take place on October 17 and 18, culminating in the grand final on October 20 in Dubai
Format and Key Dates
The tournament will be played in a short and intense format, featuring 23 matches over 18 days. Following the warm-up matches that concluded on October 1, the group stages officially kicked off on October 3. Group B teams Bangladesh and Scotland faced off in the opening match, followed by an exciting clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka(
After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the winners of each semifinal set to compete in the final for the prestigious T20 World Cup trophy(
Defending Champions and Tournament Favorites
Australia, the reigning champions, will once again be the team to beat. They have dominated women’s T20 cricket in recent years, winning six out of the previous eight editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup, including their most recent triumph in 2023. Their unparalleled success in the format, combined with the depth and experience of their squad, makes them the favorites heading into the 2024 edition(
India, England, and South Africa are considered Australia’s main challengers. India, with a mix of experienced players and rising stars, has consistently been one of the top performers in international women’s cricket. England, the inaugural winners of the tournament in 2009, have also been a formidable force and will be aiming to reclaim their former glory
. South Africa, led by captain Laura Wolvaardt, enters the tournament with a renewed sense of confidence after strong performances in recent years.
Teams to Watch: Emerging Contenders
While traditional powerhouses like Australia, India, and England dominate the headlines, the 2024 tournament also brings attention to emerging teams like Scotland and Bangladesh. Scotland’s inclusion in the tournament highlights the growing popularity of women’s cricket in non-traditional markets. The Scots will be aiming to make their mark against stronger teams and push for an upset or two during the group stages
Bangladesh, playing as the home team in spirit, will be eager to showcase their potential despite the change of venue. With a passionate fanbase and a talented pool of players, they could prove
UPCOMING MATCHES
