Kathmandu, June 27: Nepal and the UAE will be playing the opening match of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 where eight teams are competing for the ninth edition of the Cup in Sri Lanka. 

Played in a one-day format from 2004 to 2008, the tournament was revised into T20 format from 2012. While it is the ninth edition of the tournament, it is the fifth edition of the tournament played across 20 overs. It is the third time that Sri Lanka is hosting the Cup.

Meanwhile, it is the third time that Nepal is participating in the Women’s Asia Cup. Nepal debuted in the tournament in 2012 in China when the tournament was reduced to the 20-over format for the first time.

The Nepali team did not win a single match in the group stage against Bangladesh, China and Sri Lanka in 2012 and got out of the tournament. In the next edition hosted by Thailand in 2016, Nepal finished last among the six teams after losing five matches played in a single round-robin format. Thus, Nepal has not won a single match in the Women’s Asia Cup so far. 

Participating in the tournament for the third time, Nepal has the UAE, India and Pakistan as the opponents in Group A. Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand are in Group B. 

As per the fixtures revealed by the Asian Cricket Council on Wednesday, Nepal will play the opener against the UAE at 2 pm Nepali time on July 19.

The second match of Nepal is against Pakistan at 7 pm on July 21. And the third and toughest match for Nepal will be against the mighty India at 7 pm on July 23. The top two teams of each group after playing in a single round-robin format will qualify for the semi-finals. The final has been slated for July 28. All matches are being played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla.