Asia Cup 2026 (Women’s): Complete Guide — Schedule, Teams and Results
The Asia Cup 2026 women’s edition was the sixth Women’s Asia Cup, played in the T20 format in Dubai from 28 August to 13 September 2026. This complete Asia Cup 2026 guide covers the schedule, teams, groups, Pakistan’s campaign and the final result. Note: this article is about the women’s tournament — for the country’s all-time Asia Cup record, see our Asia Cup history guide.
Interest in the Asia Cup 2026 surged after the Asian Cricket Council announced on 6 August 2026 that the tournament would be played entirely in Dubai. It was the first time all 15 matches of a Women’s Asia Cup were staged at a single venue, giving fans a compact, festival-style event. The women’s Asia Cup 2026 followed the T20 format, consistent with every edition since 2012, and doubled as preparation for the next Women’s T20 World Cup cycle.
Asia Cup 2026: Format and Groups
The tournament featured eight teams divided into two groups of four, playing a single round-robin with the top two from each group reaching the semi-finals. All matches were played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium under floodlights. Group A: India, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong (China). Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (hosts), Indonesia.
Asia Cup 2026: Full Schedule and Results
- 28 Aug: Thailand vs Hong Kong, China — the Group A opener.
- 29 Aug: Sri Lanka vs UAE — defending champions began against the hosts.
- 1 Sep: Pakistan vs Thailand — Pakistan opened their campaign in the tournament.
- 5 Sep: India vs Pakistan — the blockbuster clash of the group stage, won by India by 7 wickets.
- 7 Sep: Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China — Pakistan won by 72 runs to reach the knockouts.
- 10 Sep: Semi-final 1 — India beat Bangladesh by 40 runs.
- 11 Sep: Semi-final 2 — Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 4 wickets, ending Pakistan’s title dream.
- 13 Sep: Final — India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift the trophy.
Asia Cup 2026: Pakistan’s Campaign
Pakistan’s campaign was a story of near-misses. Placed in Group A with India, Thailand and Hong Kong (China), the green shirts beat Thailand and thrashed Hong Kong by 72 runs but lost the marquee India clash by 7 wickets. That defeat meant a semi-final against defending champions Sri Lanka, who won by 4 wickets with a ball to spare. Pakistan are still waiting for a first Women’s Asia Cup title, having lost finals to India in 2012 and 2016. The campaign showed progress but also the gap to the top two sides.
Asia Cup 2026: Final — India Lift the Trophy
India won the final on 13 September 2026, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Stadium. It was India’s record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and sweet revenge for their 2024 final defeat to the same opponents. For India, chasing another continental crown, and Pakistan, chasing a first, this edition reinforced the hierarchy of Asian women’s cricket — but the expanding field, with Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the UAE all competing, shows the women’s game is growing. See also our national team overview and our T20 World Cup 2026 guide.
The tournament also produced standout individual performances across the two weeks in Dubai, with the floodlit evening matches drawing strong crowds. For Pakistani fans, the semi-final run was the team’s best showing in recent editions and provides a platform to build on ahead of the next Women’s T20 World Cup cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the women’s edition?
India won the title, beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final on 13 September 2026.
Where was it played?
The tournament was played entirely at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, UAE.
How did Pakistan perform?
Pakistan reached the semi-finals but lost to Sri Lanka by 4 wickets.
Was there a men’s tournament in 2026?
No. There was no men’s Asia Cup in 2026; this article covers the women’s T20 edition.
How many teams took part?
Eight teams: India, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong (China), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Indonesia.
Further reading: MetreCricket’s guide to the tournament and The News on the Pakistan-India group draw.
In-Depth Guide: The Women’s Asia Cup 2026
The Asia Cup 2026 women’s edition is the premier continental tournament for women’s cricket in Asia, and its importance keeps growing as boards invest more in the women’s game. For Pakistan fans, it is the best regular measure of where the national women’s team stands against regional rivals.
Women’s Asia Cup 2026 schedule and teams
The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 schedule typically packs group matches, knockouts and the final into a tight window, often in T20 format. The Women’s Asia Cup teams list features the established sides — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — plus emerging teams from the qualifiers, whose progress is one of the tournament’s best storylines. Check the official ACC announcements for venues and timings, which are confirmed closer to the event.
Pakistan women cricket team 2026 and the final
The Pakistan women cricket team 2026 enters with a blend of experienced campaigners and young talent from the domestic circuit. Key factors in their campaign are top-order consistency, spin bowling depth and fielding standards — the areas where matches against stronger sides are won or lost. The Asia Cup women final 2026 is usually contested between the two most consistent sides of the group stage; for Pakistan to reach it, winning the matches they are expected to win — and at least one upset — is the formula.
Players and Storylines to Watch
Every edition of the women’s Asia Cup 2026 produces breakout performances that reshape careers. For Pakistan, the tournament is a platform for young players from the domestic circuit to announce themselves internationally — past editions have launched several current national team regulars. Watch for emerging fast bowlers and fearless young batters; tournaments like this accelerate development faster than bilateral series.
How the women’s game is growing in Asia
The rising standard of the women’s Asia Cup 2026 reflects real investment: professional contracts, better domestic structures and growing broadcast coverage across the region. India and Bangladesh have pulled ahead through sustained programmes, while Sri Lanka and Pakistan chase consistency. For young girls in Pakistan watching at home, visibility matters enormously — every televised match plants the idea that cricket is their game too.
Broadcast and following the tournament
Fans searching for the womens asia cup 2026 schedule should rely on the ACC’s official announcements for confirmed dates and venues, since early social media versions are often provisional. The womens asia cup teams list is confirmed through the qualifiers, with emerging teams earning their spots — their matches are often the tournament’s most spirited contests.
