Defending champions India and their bitter rivals Pakistan will square off in a prime-time match here on Friday, setting up an exciting start to the Women’s Asia Cup. The eight participating teams are seeking to solidify their lineups in advance of the T20 World Cup in October.
Entering this edition of the Asia Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India are the team to beat, having won the tournament three times in a row in the T20 format and all four times in the 50-overs event.
With 17 victories in 20 games, India is also the most successful team in the Women’s Asia Cup T20. In the final of the most recent tournament in 2022, they defeated Bangladesh.
In addition to their recent strong play, Kaur’s squad will rely on India’s impressive record versus Pakistan in the shortest format, which stands at 11 victories against three losses in 14 games. This will help them secure a spot in Group A.
In addition to their recent strong play, Kaur’s squad will rely on India’s impressive record versus Pakistan in the shortest format, which stands at 11 victories against three losses in 14 games. This will help them secure a spot in Group A.
India’s most valuable asset at the top of the order will be Smriti Mandhana’s excellent batsmanship, but their bowling has improved most recently in all-format matches, with pacers and spinners combining for an impressive display.
In addition to Radha Yadav’s encouraging comeback to the mix of spinners, India bowler Pooja Vastrakar’s eight wickets in three matches against South Africa demonstrate her form. Sajeevan Sajana, Shreyanka Patil, and Deepti Sharma are also part of the spin attack.
Nida Dar was still Pakistan’s captain for the Asia Cup, although the team has experienced a major transformation since the scandal in England.
Along with the uncapped Tasmia Rubab, three players who haven’t played a game this year—Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, and Syeda Aroob Shah—were included, while six others were left out.
Nepal and the United Arab Emirates, who will compete here at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium earlier in the day, are also grouped in Group A.
In the semifinals, the top two teams in each group will compete.
Nepal is making their first participation in the competition since 2016, but UAE, who have won more than half of their games this year, will be making their second straight appearance.
Nepal, whose most recent match was a mid-February loss to Malaysia in the Asian Cricket Council’s Women’s Premier Cup, will be concerned about their lack of playing time.
The UAE’s last game was in May when they were defeated by Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal of the T20 World Cup qualifier.
Teams (from):
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan Sajana.
Pakistan: Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan.
Match starts at 7pm (IST)
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