Women's T20 World Cup

The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the ninth edition of the tournament, will be held from October 3 to October 20, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Originally set to be hosted by Bangladesh, the tournament was relocated to the UAE due to political unrest in Bangladesh. Violent protests and government instability raised security concerns for international teams, prompting the move.

Format and schedule

The tournament will feature 10 teams divided into two groups, competing in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals. Group A includes defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while Group B comprises South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Scotland. A total of 23 matches, including the semifinals and final, will be played across two key venues: Dubai and Sharjah.

The Women's T20 World Cup fixtures kick off with Bangladesh facing Scotland on October 3, 2024, in Sharjah, followed by India’s highly anticipated opener against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai. India will then clash with their arch-rivals Pakistan on October 6 in Dubai, a match bound to draw significant attention. India’s other group-stage matches include encounters with Sri Lanka and Australia.

Key dates for India, also known as the Women in Blue, include:

• October 4: India vs New Zealand, Dubai
• October 6: India vs Pakistan, Dubai
• October 9: India vs Sri Lanka, Dubai
• October 13: India vs Australia, Sharjah

Tournament history

The Women’s T20 World Cup has evolved into a major ICC event since its inception in 2009. Australia, the dominant force in women’s cricket, has won the tournament a record six times, including the last three editions (2018, 2020 and 2023). England, the winners of the inaugural edition in 2009, and West Indies, the champions in 2016, are the only other teams to have lifted the trophy. Australia’s consistency in the tournament has been extraordinary, solidifying their legacy as the team to beat. India had reached the finals of the tournament once in 2020, which they lost to Australia.

Top performers in Women's T20 World Cup history

Several players have made a mark in the Women's T20 World Cup over the years. Among them, South Africa's Shabnim Ismail is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament's history, with 43 wickets to her name. Among the batters, former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates holds the record for the highest number of runs in the tournament's history, amassing over 1,000 runs.

Venue shift to UAE

The shift of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 venue from Bangladesh to the UAE marks a significant change. The UAE, which has previously hosted major cricket events like the Men’s T20 World Cup, is well-prepared to host this global event. The political upheaval in Bangladesh, including protests and the resignation of the prime minister, created a security risk that led to the relocation. Despite efforts by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to explore alternatives, travel advisories from multiple governments made it impossible to hold the tournament there.

The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup promises to be an exciting spectacle. India, one of the tournament's powerhouses, will aim to break Australia’s dominance and secure their first Women's T20 World Cup title.