The 9th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 gets underway in a few days’ time in the United Arab Emirates. Due to political turmoil in Bangladesh, where the tournament was originally to be held, the World Cup will now be played in the UAE.
10 teams will fight it out for the big prize from 3 to 20 October 2024. Australia, who defeated South Africa in the previous final, are the defending champions and also the most successful team in the tournament’s history with six titles. Suzie Bates is the highest run-scorer across the T20 World Cups, while South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail is the highest wicket-taker.
India, who have never won the trophy but finished twice as semifinals and once as runners-up across the last three editions, will be looking to get their hands on the silverware this time.
Winners List
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | Hosts |
| 2009 | England | New Zealand | England |
| 2010 | Australia | New Zealand | West Indies |
| 2012 | Australia | England | Sri Lanka |
| 2014 | Australia | England | Bangladesh |
| 2016 | West Indies | Australia | India |
| 2018 | Australia | England | West Indies |
| 2020 | Australia | India | Australia |
| 2023 | Australia | South Africa | South Africa |
| 2024 | TBD | TBD | UAE |
Women’s T20 WC 2024 Schedule
| Date | Match | Group/Stage | Time | Venue |
| October 3, Thursday | Bangladesh vs Scotland | B | 3:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 3, Thursday | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | A | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 4, Friday | South Africa vs West Indies | B | 3:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 4, Friday | India vs New Zealand | A | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 5, Saturday | Bangladesh vs England | B | 3:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 5, Saturday | Australia vs Sri Lanka | A | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 6, Sunday | India vs Pakistan | A | 3:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 6, Sunday | West Indies vs Scotland | A | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 7, Monday | England vs South Africa | B | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 8, Tuesday | Australia vs New Zealand | A | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 9, Wednesday | South Africa vs Scotland | B | 3:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 9, Wednesday | India vs Sri Lanka | A | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 10, Thursday | Bangladesh vs West Indies | B | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 11, Friday | Australia vs Pakistan | A | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 12, Saturday | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | A | 3:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 12, Saturday | Bangladesh vs South Africa | B | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 13, Sunday | England vs Scotland | B | 3:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 13, Sunday | India vs Australia | A | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 14, Monday | Pakistan vs New Zealand | A | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 15, Tuesday | England vs West Indies | B | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 17, Thursday | TBD | Semi-final 1 | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| October 18, Friday | TBD | Semi-final 2 | 7:30 PM | Sharjah |
| October 20, Sunday | TBD | Final | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
Top players to watch out for
Sophie Ecclestone – England
Sophie Ecclestone is currently the highest-ranked bowler in both the women’s ODIs and T20I rankings. She will spearhead England’s spin department, which is expected to play a big role on the spin-friendly UAE pitches.
In 86 T20I matches, Ecclestone has taken 126 wickets at an economy rate of 5.85, including a best of 4/18. In the previous World Cup edition in 2023, she picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 7.54, including a best of 3/13.
Beth Mooney – Australia
Beth Mooney is currently the highest-ranked ICC T20I batter. In her 101 T20Is to date, she has amassed 2,858 runs at an average of 39.69, with a strike rate of 123.66. She was also Australia’s highest run-scorer in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup, with 206 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 117.71. The 30-yeat-old will be one of the key players for Australia in their quest to win a record seventh title.
Hayley Matthews – West Indies
Highest-ranked ICC T20I allrounder and captain of the West Indies Women’s Cricket Team, Hayley Mathews is another player to watch out for. Over the course of her 96-match T20I career, she has accumulated 2,339 runs at an average of 25.70. This includes 13 half-centuries and two centuries. In the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, Matthews scored 130 runs and took four wickets in just four matches.
Smriti Mandhana – India
One of the best batters in the game’s shortest format, India’s Smriti Mandhana will be expected to light up the stage at the upcoming T20 World Cup. She is India’s highest run-scorer in T20Is, with 3,493 runs including 26 fifties.
Mandhana was also India’s highest run-scorer at the 2023 T20 World Cup. In four innings, she scored 151 runs at an average of over 37 and a strike rate of almost 139.
Marizanne Kapp – South Africa
Marizanne Kapp, who has played 107 T20Is for South Africa, is not just internationally experienced but also brings a wealth of experience from various T20 franchise tournaments. With the bat, she has scored 1,532 runs at an average of 20.98, including five half-centuries. In addition to her contributions with the bat, Kapp has also proven to be a reliable bowler, claiming 83 wickets in her T20I career.
During the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, Kapp scored 58 runs with the bat and took nine wickets across six matches.
Chamari Athapaththu – Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu will be her team’s most important batter in the T20 World Cup 2024. An aggressive and flamboyant batter, she will be expected to score some quick runs at the top of the order. She is also one of the most experienced players in this World Cup, bringing with her the experience of 139 T20 internationals, from which she has amassed 3326 runs at an average of over 25 and a strike rate of 110.90. She is also a handy offspinner who could play a big role on the spin-friendly UAE pitches.
Kathryn Bryce – Scotland
Kathryn Bryce, who will be at the helm of the Scotland Team, recently took a hat-trick at the Women’s Hundred, and will be looking to carry that form into the World Cup. Bryce was also instrumental in Scotland’s success at the T20 World Cup Qualifier earlier this year. She contributed significantly by scoring 177 runs and taking nine wickets. The medium pacer also brings with her the experience of playing in T20 franchise tournaments like Women’s Hundred and Women’s IPL.
Nashra Sandhu – Pakistan
Another spin bowler who will be looking to make the most of the pitches in Dubai and Sharjah is Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu. In 62 T20I matches for Pakistan, the leg spinner has taken 60 wickets at an economy rate of 5.46. At the 2023 World Cup, Sandhu took seven wickets in four matches.
Sophie Devine – New Zealand
Sophie Devine, the captain of the New Zealand team, will be one of the all-rounders to watch out for. In her 137 T20I appearances, she has accumulated 3,277 runs at an average of 28.25, which includes 20 half-centuries and one century. In the 2023 T20 World Cup, Devine had a disappointing tournament by her standards, managing only 19 runs across four matches at an average of 6.33. She will be eager to bounce back and make up for it in the upcoming edition.
