The ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin on October 3rd in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with 10 teams vying for the coveted title. Initially slated to take place in Bangladesh, the tournament was shifted to the UAE due to the prevailing political situation in the country.
Dubai and Sharjah will be the host cities for the 23 matches scheduled from October 3rd to 20th. While the two venues have only hosted a limited number of Women’s T20 Internationals (W-T20Is) in the past, the tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium will be the battlegrounds for these crucial encounters.
Interestingly, this will be the first time that top-ranked women’s teams like India, Australia, and England will play in Dubai. The city will host a total of 12 matches, including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash, the first semi-final, and the grand finale. Nine of these matches will be played under lights, bringing an added dimension to the already intense competition.
Dubai is known for its dewy nights, especially during the second innings of matches. The history of night T20 matches played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium since 2020 paints a clear picture: out of 81 matches, teams have chosen to bat first only 14 times, leading to just six victories and seven losses, with one match ending in a tie. This suggests a distinct advantage for the team chasing.
While India will face Pakistan during the day, their matches against New Zealand and Sri Lanka at this venue will take place under the lights.
Sharjah, on the other hand, will host 11 matches during the World Cup, including the clash between India and Australia and the second semi-final. Seven of these matches will be played under the lights. Sharjah shares a similar trend with Dubai when it comes to night matches. Out of 52 T20 matches played under lights since 2020, teams have opted to bat first only 17 times, resulting in 10 losses and seven wins. India’s lone league match in Sharjah will be played under the lights.
With such a diverse lineup of teams and the intriguing prospect of dew impacting night matches, the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a fiercely contested and exciting tournament. The world’s best women cricketers will be battling it out on the pitch, and fans can expect nail-biting finishes and memorable moments throughout the tournament.
