Pakistan will face Thailand in their opening Group A match before taking on arch-rivals India on Sept. 5 in Dubai.
DUBAI: Pakistan’s women’s cricket team will begin its ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 campaign against Thailand on Tuesday, with Fatima Sana-led side aiming to make a winning start at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The Group A match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time, or 8 p.m. Indian Standard Time. All 15 matches of the eight-team tournament are being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan have been drawn in Group A alongside India, Thailand and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for Sept. 10 and 11, with the final set for Sept. 13 in Dubai.
The opening match gives Pakistan an opportunity to build early momentum before a much-anticipated meeting with India on Sept. 5. The team will then complete its group-stage campaign against Hong Kong, China, on Sept. 7.
Pakistan’s squad is being led by captain Fatima Sana and includes wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said the team completed its preparation camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore before travelling to the United Arab Emirates. The tournament is being played from Aug. 28 to Sept. 13.
Thailand, meanwhile, have already featured in the tournament and will be looking to strengthen their position in Group A. Pakistan will need a disciplined performance with both bat and ball to avoid an early setback and establish themselves among the teams competing for a semifinal place.
Pakistan’s match against Thailand will be followed by the high-profile India clash on Sept. 5, a fixture expected to draw considerable attention from cricket fans across the region.
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