India, Pakistan clash marked on July 21 in expanded Women's Asia Cup 2024

India and Pakistan are clubbed alongside the United Arab Emirates and Nepal in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, which is slated to be played in Dambulla from July 19-28. While India are set to take on UAE in the opening encounter on July 19, the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash will take place on July 21. 

This year, the Women’s Asia Cup returned in a bigger avatar, with an eighth team being added to the tournament. In the previous edition in 2022 in Bangladesh, seven teams played against each other at least once - but with one more team being added this time, teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each.

The top two teams from both groups will be progressing to the semi-finals, scheduled for July 26, before the final is played on July 28. 

"We are excited to see the increased participation and competitiveness among the teams, reflecting the growing popularity and importance of women's cricket. This expansion, from six teams in 2018 to seven in 2022, and now eight, is a testament to our commitment to the women's game and the burgeoning talent pool in Asian cricket,” Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, Jay Shah, said.

The tournament will also clash with the Women's Hundred, which starts on July 23, so the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Chamari Athapaththu, and Richa Ghosh may join their respective Hundred squads a little late.