The India women’s cricket team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, is set to begin their Women’s Asia Cup 2024 campaign against Pakistan this Friday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla. The tournament, played in T20 format, will serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Women’s Asia Cup features a mix of full-member teams, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, alongside Malaysia, the UAE, Thailand, and Nepal. As India aims for a record-extending eighth title, Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized the significance of the tournament: “This tournament is crucial for our preparation for the T20 World Cup. We give equal respect to it because performing well in an Asian tournament enhances our cricket on the global stage.”
Kaur stressed the importance of each game, noting that the team’s approach remains consistent regardless of the competition. Pooja Vastrakar, participating in her third edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, echoed similar sentiments. “We had a successful tournament last year and aim to continue that legacy,” Vastrakar said. “Our preparations have been thorough, including a camp in Bengaluru and matches against South Africa in Chennai. We are focusing not just on the Asia Cup but also on the World Cup and bilateral series.”
The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST on Friday, July 19. Fans can catch the action live on Star Sports Network and stream it on Hotstar.
With a young and dynamic team, India is determined to make the most of these preliminary matches to refine their performance and strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup.
