By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka will host the 8-nation 2024 Women’s Asia Cup to be played in the T20 format at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium from July 19 to 28.
Addressing the participating teams and the media on Thursday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium auditorium, Sri Lanka Cricket’s Vice President, Ravin Wickramaratne, while welcoming the participating teams and officials, was quick to voice his appreciation on behalf of SLC President, Shammi Silva and the executive committee of the Asian Cricket Council for granting Sri Lanka the hosting rights of Asia’s showpiece event of 2024.
“Hosting such a major tournament is not only a big boost for women’s cricket in the country, but also for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry from a economic perspective,” Wickramaratne observed.
This 2024 Women’s Asia Cup will feature one extra team from the previous edition, with the big teams made up of hosts Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, joined by UAE, Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia, the semi-finalists of the Women’s Premier Cup 2024.
Unlike last time, when all teams played each other once before the semi-finals, this year they will be split into two groups. Defending champions India join Pakistan, UAE and Nepal in Group A, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia slot into Group B. The India vs Pakistan game is scheduled for July 21.
The top-two teams from each group will then feature in the semi-finals on July 26 with the finals on July 28.
A feature of the conduct of the tournament will be that unlike the previous edition held in Sylhet, only female umpires will officiate the matches.
The countdown to showpiece event which is seen as a big window for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka as well as the country’s tourism, saw the team captains have their say.
The Asia Cup is seen as a forerunning galvanizer for Asian teams leading to the T20 World Cup scheduled to be staged in Bangladesh starting in September.
Since 2012, the tournament has been staged in the T20 format once in two years, though in 2020 the tournament was first postponed and then cancelled following the COVID pandemic.
SL CAPTAIN CHAMARI ATHAPATHU OPTIMISTIC OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The skipper of host team Sri Lanka, Chamari Athapaththu was upbeat about her team’s chances when she said that her side intended to make a big difference at this tournament in the wake of some historic series triumphs over some of the big teams in the international stage such as South Africa, England, New Zealand and the West Indies in a short space of time. “I believe we can make a big difference at this year’s Asia Cup having grown in confidence and experience in the last one year by defeating the biggest teams in international cricket such as England, South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies,” she said.
She further voiced that her team had derived a game changing confidence they expected to showcase this time around as the team boasted of several players who had gone through the mill to making their mark such as Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshika Madavi Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari among others. “The Asia Cup will be a good gelling forerunner for the SL team in preparing for the T20 World Cup later this year.
She noted that defending champions India was a strong side boasting of as much as 6 to 7 top players while Pakistan and Bangladesh too had in their fold about 2 to 3 top players.
India Captain, Harmanpreet Kaur voiced that her team was fresh from winning four tournaments and that her players to further showcase their proficiency as the defending champions.
Pakistan Captain, Nida Dar said that her team was brimming with confidence and that every time they played against India, it enabled them to enhance their game.
Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Groups
Group 1: India, Nepal, Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.
Group 2: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand.
Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Squads
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (C), Anushka Sanjeewani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Ama Kanchana, Udeshika Prabodani, Kawya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasooriya, Kaveesha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunarathne, Inoshi Priyadarshani, Nilakshi De Silva, Sachini Nisansala, Shashini Gimhani.
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.
Pakistan: Nida Dar (C), Iram Javed, Sadia Iqbal, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin, Najiha Alvi, Syeda Aroob Shah, Nashra Sundhu, Tasmia Rubab, Omaima Sohail, Tuba Hassan.
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (C), 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
Nepal: Indu Barma (C), Kajol Shrestha, Rubina Chettri, Sabnam Rai, Sita Rana Magar, Rajmati Airee, Puja Mahato, Bindu Rawal, Roma Thapa, Mamta Chaudhary, Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar, Dolly Bhatta, Kritika Marasini, Samjhana Khadka
United Arab Emirates: Esha Rohit Oza (C), Kavisha Kumari, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Lavanya Keny, Emily Thomas, Heena Harish Hotchandani, Mehak Thakur, Indhuja Nandakumar, Rinitha Rajith, Khushi Mohan Sharma, Rishitha Rajith, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Vaishnave Mahesh.
Thailand: Thipatcha Putthawong (C), Nannapat Khoncharoenkai (WK), Suwanan Khiaoto (WK), Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Rosenanee Kanoh, Suleeporn Laomi, Phannita Maya, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Nattaya Boochatham, Chanida Sutthiruang, Kanyakorn Bunthansen, Nannaphat Chaihan
Malaysia: Winifred Duraisingam (C), Mas Elysa, Ainna Hamizah Hashim, Wan Julia, Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Aina Najwa, Aisya Eleesa, Nur Izzatul Syafiqa, Arianna Natasya, Elsa Hunter, Dhanusri Sri Muhunan, Suabika Manivannan, Amalin Sorfina, Nur Aisyah, Irdina Beh Nabil.
Women’s Asia Cup 2024 schedule
Jul 19, Pak vs Nep, Ind vs UAE
Jul 20, Mal vs Tha, SL vs Ban
Jul 21, Nep vs UAE, Ind vs Pak
Jul 22, SL vs Mal, Ban vs Tha
Jul 23, Pak vs UAE, Ind vs Nep
Jul 24, Ban vs Mal, SL vs Tha
Jul 26, semi-finals
Jul 28, final
