Ahead of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, India will play two warm-up matches against West Indies and South Africa in Dubai on September 29 and October 1 respectively, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday. ICC released the schedule for the 10 warm-up matches to be from September 28 to October 1 in the United Arab Emirates before the start of the showpiece event. All 10 teams that have qualified for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will participate in the practice games, with every side playing two warm-up games each.

The warm-up fixtures will start on September 28 with Pakistan taking on Scotland and Sri Lanka facing Bangladesh. Defending champions Australia will feature in a clash against arch-rivals England the following day, while India take on 2016 edition champions West Indies on the same day.

These warm-up fixtures will be 20 overs per side and will not have international T20 status, allowing teams to field all members of their 15-player squad. No two sides who belong to the same group will take on each other in the warm-up round.

In the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, Group A comprises defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Group B has England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland and Bangladesh.

Warm-up fixture schedule:

28 September, Saturday, Pakistan v Scotland, Sevens, Dubai, 6 PM

28 September, Saturday, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, ICCA1, Dubai, 6 PM

29 September, Sunday, New Zealand v South Africa, Sevens, Dubai, 6 PM

29 September, Sunday, India v West Indies, ICCA2, Dubai, 6 PM

29 September, Sunday, Australia v England, ICCA1, Dubai, 6 PM

30 September, Monday, Sri Lanka v Scotland, Sevens, Dubai, 6 PM

30 September, Monday, Bangladesh v Pakistan, ICCA2, Dubai, 6 PM

1 October, Tuesday, West Indies v Australia, Sevens, Dubai, 6 PM

1 October, Tuesday, England v New Zealand, ICCA2, Dubai, 6 PM

1 October, Tuesday, South Africa v India, ICCA1, Dubai, 6 PM

India will be taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on October 6 here as per the revamped fixtures of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup released by the ICC on Monday. The tournament starts on October 3. The global competition, initially scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, was moved out of the country by the ICC after many players expressed concerns around security due to the prevailing political unrest. Dubai and Sharjah are the only two venues in the event hosting a total of 23 matches.

The groups remain the same, with defending champion Australia clubbed alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Scotland.

Each side will play four group matches at the tournament, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18 ahead of the final in Dubai on October 20.

A reserve day has been fixed for both the semi-finals and the final. If India advance, they will feature in the first semi-final.

Sri Lanka and Scotland qualified for the tournament via the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier event held in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. There will be 10 warm-up matches held prior to the tournament from September 28 through to October 1.

Tournament fixtures:

3 October, Thursday, Bangladesh v Scotland, Sharjah

3 October, Thursday, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Sharjah 

4 October, Friday, South Africa v West Indies, Dubai 

4 October, Friday, India v New Zealand, Dubai 

5 October, Saturday, Bangladesh v England, Sharjah 

5 October, Saturday, Australia v Sri Lanka, Sharjah 

6 October, Sunday, India v Pakistan, Dubai 

6 October, Sunday, West Indies v Scotland, Dubai 

7 October, Monday, England v South Africa, Sharjah 

8 October, Tuesday, Australia v New Zealand, Sharjah 

9 October, Wednesday, South Africa v Scotland, Dubai 

9 October, Wednesday, India v Sri Lanka, Dubai 

10 October, Thursday, Bangladesh v West Indies, Sharjah 

11 October, Friday, Australia v Pakistan, Dubai 

12 October, Saturday, New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Sharjah 

12 October, Saturday, Bangladesh v South Africa, Dubai 

13 October, Sunday, England v Scotland, Sharjah 

13 October, Sunday, India v Australia, Sharjah 

14 October, Monday, Pakistan v New Zealand, Dubai 

15 October, Tuesday, England v West Indies, Dubai 

17 October, Thursday, Semi-final 1, Dubai 

18 October, Friday, Semi-final 2, Sharjah 

20 October, Sunday, Final, Dubai

File image of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.© X (Twitter)

A distraught India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that there is room for a lot of improvement before the upcoming T20 World Cup and her team won’t easily forget the eight-wicket humbling at the hands of Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final here on Sunday. India scored a decent 165 for 6 but rival skipper Chamari Athapaththu (62) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (69 not out) were severe on the visiting bowlers, finishing the match in 18.4 overs. The women’s T20 World Cup will be held in Bangladesh later this October.

“We are looking to improve in some areas. We will definitely work hard and remember this day. They have played such good cricket for so long and they played good cricket throughout this tournament,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation ceremony on Sunday.

She admitted that her side’s bowling didn’t work as per plans with hardly any breakthroughs to show for their efforts.

“We played good cricket throughout the tournament and, no doubt, we made a lot of fumbles today and that cost us.

“It was a decent total, we were looking for breakthroughs in the powerplay but it didn’t go according to plan and Sri Lanka batted really well,” the India skipper added.

Her Lankan counterpart Athapaththu was delighted after the island nation’s first major success in women’s international cricket.

“I am really happy about our team performance, especially the batting performances, especially Harshitha and Dilhari.

“We have played really good cricket in the last 12 months and we want to continue it. Never saw such a crowd, so special thanks go to the Sri Lankan people who came out to watch the game.

“This win is good not only for the team but the whole Sri Lanka because we have to inspire the next generation,” Chamari said.

Athapaththu played the most important knock of her life while anchoring the chase.

“I have to lead from the front, that’s my duty for my country. We always talk about positive things in the dressing room, for which the credit goes to the head coach and the support staff. Our next target is the (T20) World Cup,” she concluded.

India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup Final, Live Streaming: India to face Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 on Sunday in Dambulla. Both the teams are yet to face a defeat in the ongoing tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur and co thrashed Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the semi-finals and entered the summit clash. On the other hand, hosts Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan. It will be a crucial game as Team India eyes eighth title.

When will the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match be played?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be played on Sunday, July 28.

Where will the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match be played?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla.

What time will the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match start?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will start at 3:00 PM IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be streamed live on Hotstar.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

IND vs BAN, Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Semi-Final, Live Updates© X (Twitter)

Ahead of India facing Bangladesh in the first semi-final of 2024 Women’s Asia Cup, big-hitting opener Shafali Verma said the defending champions do realise that the knockout clash is a very important thing for them. So far in the tournament, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have been unbeaten – defeating Pakistan by seven wickets, winning by 78 runs against UAE and beating Nepal by 82 runs to top Group A. “Really happy with the way we all have gelled up with each other and are winning the matches. The semi-finals is a very important thing for us. Today, we all have come up for practice and hopefully, we will do our best thing to do good tomorrow,” said Shafali in the pre-match press conference.

With 158 runs, Shafali has been the second highest run-scorer in the tournament so far in an Indian batting line-up which has seen Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh come good with the bat. She feels the lower-order batters like Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar are capable off pulling off big hits if needed.

“We just back ourselves and as a batting unit, we are backing our strengths. The bowlers are doing a great job, but day by day, we have to keep improving ourselves. Every day, they (lower-order batters) are batting in the nets. Whenever they get a chance, I hope they get to hit sixes.”

Shafali signed off by saying India are putting in the hard yards to be better at fielding, an aspect which has been lukewarm for them in the Asia Cup. “We are working hard on our fielding. So, we will look to tick mark all the things – batting, bowling and fielding – and contribute for the best things in the semi-finals.”

Squads:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wk), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (wk), Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwer, Sajana Sajeevan.

Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain & wk), Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorifa Khatun, Ritu Moni, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sultana Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Ishma Tanjim, Rabeya Khan, Rumana Ahmed, Marufa Akter, Sabikun Nahar Jesmin.

Stand-in India skipper Smriti Mandhana was pleased to see the middle-order batters getting some much-needed runs under their belt against Nepal in Dambulla on Tuesday ahead of the women’s Asia Cup semifinals. With regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur skipping the match and India sitting pretty at the top of the group, Mandhana decided to shuffle the batting order to give time to the other batters in the middle during their last group match against minnows Nepal. Mandhana, a regular opener, didn’t bat at the top as Shafali Verma (81) and Dayalan Hemalatha (47) opened the innings and smashed their way to 122 in 14 overs to lay the foundation.

S Sajana (10) and Jemmimah Rodrigues (28) then took them to a solid 178 for 3, which proved enough as Nepal could manage 96 for nine in 20 overs to suffer a 82-run loss.

“As an opener you don’t get a lot of games where you don’t bat. Much needed game time for all the other batters. The middle order hasn’t batted in the previous games,” Mandhana said during the post-match presentation.

“The conditions were different and it is always good to have game time under your belt. The middle order didn’t get time in the South Africa series as well, so good they could spend some time in the middle.” Mandhana said each tournament since the last few months has been a step towards preparation for the World T20 scheduled to be held in Bangladesh later this year.

“Not only this tournament, but also in the last five or six months, the preparations started post WPL, there are a lot of fine tuning to be done and we have to keep improving, cannot go into a World Cup under prepared,” she said.

India might play Bangladesh in the semifinals, an opponent they had comprehensively defeated in a recent away series but Mandhana said they are not going to lower their guard.

“You don’t take any team (semifinal opponents) lightly, we have two days to rest and practice before we go out and apply ourselves.” Adjudged player-of-the-match for her blistering 48-ball knock 81, Shafali Verma said she backed her strength and the execution was good.

“The consistency is improving but I could have finished the innings today,” said the opener, who slammed 12 fours and a six during her match-winning innings.

Shafali had scored the fastest double century in women’s Tests during a match against South Africa in Chennai last month and she said it gave her a lot of confidence.

“Double hundred is big for any batter and I got plenty of confidence from that innings, I wasn’t in good form before that but the innings helped me get back my confidence.” Nepal skipper Indu Barma said they will look to come back stronger after taking a lot of lessons from their matches against India and Pakistan.

“I am proud of my team. The effort we put in, we realised our weakness and will come back stronger.

“It was a great exposure to play against India. I am happy with my team, after 10 overs the bowlers got good momentum and restricted them to below 200. We got good experience from this tournament by playing against India and Pakistan. We made some good memories,” she said.

Explosive opener Shafali Verma slammed a career-best 48-ball 81 as defending champions India thrashed minnows Nepal by 82 runs in their final group match to confirm their semifinal spot at the Women’s Asia Cup T20 tournament in Dambulla on Tuesday. With India shuffling the batting order, Shafali and Dayalan Hemalatha (47) opened the innings and gave India a flying start after stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana won the toss and opted to bat. The opening duo smashed its way to 122 in 14 overs to lay the foundation.

Jemimah Rodrigues then hit unbeaten 28 off 15 balls, including three fours in the final over, to take India to a solid 178 for three.

Nepal needed to achieve the target in or under 10 overs to surpass Pakistan on net run rate and qualify for the semifinals but they could only manage 96 for nine in their 20 overs, thanks to some superb bowling from the in-form Indian attack.

Deepti Sharma (3/13) was the most successful bowler for India as she snapped three wickets, while her spin colleague Radha Yadav (2/12) and seamer Arundhati Reddy (2/18), playing in place of a rested Pooja Vastrakar, snapped two each.

Pakistan, thus, became the second team to qualify for the semifinals from group A.

It proved to be a tough chase for Nepal as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals to slip to 52 for 4 in 10.2 overs with seamer Arundhati cleaning up both the openers — Samjhana Khadka (7) and Sita Rana Magar (18).

Renuka Singh (1/15) then dismissed Kabita Kunwar (6), while Radha removed Indu Barma (14).

Deepti then got into the act, getting rid of Rubina Chhetry (15) and Kabita Joshi (0) and then removed Puja Mahato (2) with a direct throw.

Dolly Bhatta (5) became the second victim of Radha, while a caught and bowl effort helped Deepti dismiss Kajal Shrestha (3) to claim her third wicket.

Earlier, Shafali literally toyed with the bowlers, using her flicks to good use as 12 fours and a maximum flew from her blade.

Hemalatha struggled a bit but chugged along with her experienced partner as the Nepalese bowlers toiled in vain.

The openers racked up 50 in the powerplay and continued to make the bowlers pay.

Shafali was particularly harsh on medium pacer Kabita Joshi (1/36), smashing her for five boundaries, while off-spinner Sabnam Rai (0/41) too was sent across the line a couple of times.

The dashing opener smacked spinner Rubina Chhetry (0/14) over deep mid-wicket for her first six in the seventh over before picking up another four with a slog-sweep. She completed her fifty in 26 balls in the eighth over.

Hemalatha, who was finding it difficult to get the middle of the bat, then clobbered Joshi for a straight six as India reached 91 for no loss at the halfway stage.

Nepal had an opportunity to break the stand in the 12th over by left-arm spinner Sita Rana Magar (2/25) but seamer Indu Barma (0/29) spilled a regulation catch off Hemalatha at the boundary line.

The batter, however, was caught by Rubina after a bit of a juggle off the same bowler as India lost their first wicket with the team at 122 in 14 overs.

Hemalatha struck five fours and a six in her 42-ball innings.

Shafali continued to punish the bowlers, slamming two more fours off Barma but Sita Rana finally got rid of the opener with a tossed up delivery as the keeper did the rest.

Joshi then trapped S Sajana (10) but Rodrigues swelled the innings with a little cameo.

India vs Nepal, Women’s Asia Cup T20 LIVE Updates© X (Twitter)