ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Kicks Off in UAE with Captains' Day

The captains of all ten participating teams have come together to mark the official commencement of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
This year’s tournament, taking place in the United Arab Emirates, kicks off on Thursday, October 3, with the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Leading her team, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana joined the other captains in Dubai to celebrate the tournament’s start, which will culminate on October 20 in the same city.
Sultana expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing how fortunate the teams are to be part of an event that will bring happiness to fans, friends, and families. She anticipated a large crowd of supporters, especially in Sharjah, where the Bangladeshi community has a strong presence, predicting that such a prestigious event would draw even more people to cheer for them.

A Unique Approach to Captains' Photoshoot

This year, the ICC took a creative route for the captains' official photograph. Each captain had the chance to express their enthusiasm for the tournament, with the iconic Dubai Frame serving as a dramatic backdrop, symbolizing the UAE’s unique landscape. The image was captured by Tina Patni, a well-known Dubai-based fashion and editorial photographer, whose work has earned her global recognition.

Captains' Panel Discussion

During Captains' Day, a special panel was hosted by Melanie Jones, giving fans a rare insight into the captains’ strategies, challenges, and aspirations. All ten captains participated in the discussion.
Australia, represented by Alyssa Healy at the event, is striving for their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup title. Healy emphasized that every team present has earned their spot and has a legitimate chance to claim victory. She explained that Australia’s goal wasn’t just to defend their title but to pursue another win actively, underscoring the team’s excitement to face the challenges ahead.
Australia’s warm-up matches saw victories over England and the West Indies, although the latter team put up a strong fight. In a competitive Group A, Australia will face top teams like India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the recent Asia Cup champions.

India's Quest for Their First ICC World Cup

India is aiming to secure their first-ever ICC World Cup win, having reached the finals three times before – in the 2020 T20 World Cup, as well as the 2005 and 2017 50-over tournaments. Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad enters the event ranked third in the world, having made it to the semi-finals in the last three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.

England Leading Group B