Women cricketers showcased their fun side during a lively photo session ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup, dancing and dressing up in different styles before the tournament. Before the start of the tournament, the players danced and dressed up in different styles, adding a fun and lively touch to the event.
Players from the Pakistan women’s cricket team also took part in the photo session, while teams from Sri Lanka, the UAE and Thailand performed to different tunes. The Asian Cricket Council released footage of the photo session activities involving the teams participating in the tournament.
The Women’s Asia Cup trophy unveiling ceremony will be held in Dubai today, while the tournament will begin tomorrow and continue until September 13. The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 is set to take place from August 28 to September 13 at Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, with eight teams competing for the continental title.
The tournament marks the 10th edition of the biennial Women’s T20 Asia Cup, bringing together the region’s leading women’s cricket teams. Defending champions Sri Lanka will enter the tournament under the leadership of Chamari Athapaththu, with Harshitha Samarawickrama serving as vice-captain. Sri Lanka have also been forced to make a change to their squad, with all-rounder Dewmi Vihanga ruled out because of injury. Left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage has been called up as her replacement.
India, the most successful side in Women’s Asia Cup history with seven titles, will be captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, while Smriti Mandhana will serve as vice-captain. The team, however, will be missing batter Jemimah Rodrigues, who has been ruled out after suffering a high-grade hamstring tear.
Pakistan will be led by Fatima Sana, who returns to captain the 15-member squad after missing the team’s recent series against Sri Lanka. She had been unavailable because of her commitments with Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.
Bangladesh will be led by Nigar Sultana Joty in Dubai. The squad has also been strengthened by the late inclusion of 17-year-old uncapped all-rounder Farjana Easmin, who replaces Fariha Trisna after the latter was ruled out with a thigh injury. With several key players returning and others sidelined through injury, the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup promises a competitive battle as the teams look to claim the continental crown.
The current edition of the tournament will be the 10th iteration and sixth in T20 format after the first four tournaments in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 were played in One-Day format.
Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana, in her pre-departure media talk, said, “We played matches against boys in our pre-tournament camp, and that also helped us create pressure situations on the team, which is really helpful. We aim to adopt the conditions as soon as possible in the tournament. Pakistan, who are placed in Group A, are set to face India on 5 September in their second match and will play Hong Kong, China on 7 August.
“We created such scenarios that helped our players deal with pressure situations. I’ll try to take the challenge of this tournament day-by-day, and no one game is more important in the event. We want to win every single game and produce positive results.”