India to open Women`s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Pakistan

India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of ICC Women`s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston on June 14.

The ICC and hosts England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday announced the full schedule of the tournament, featuring 12 teams.

The 24-day long tournament will be held from June 12 to July 5 next year and will consist of a total of 33 matches to be played across seven venues in England.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will kickstart their campaigns at Edgbaston, whereas the opening match of the tournament will be between hosts England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.

Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval, Bristol County Ground and Lord`s are the other venues of the competition.

The two semifinals will be played at The Oval on June 30 and July 2, and the final will be at Lord`s on July 5.

The 12-team competition will have two groups of six teams each. The Group 1 consists of six-time winners Australia, last edition`s runner-up South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifying teams.

The Group 2 consists of defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, hosts England and two qualifying teams.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

After their opening clash against Pakistan, India will move to Headingley for their contest against a qualifying team on June 17, followed by contest against South Africa at the Old Trafford on June 21.

While India will face the second qualifying team of Group 1 on June 25 at Old Trafford, their toughest game will be against Australia on June 28 at the `Home of Cricket`.

“At iconic venues across the country, we`ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change,” said tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild.

(With PTI inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day