The United Arab Emirates is expected to stage the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, although the Asian Cricket Council has not yet made a formal announcement.
What is reported
Reports suggest preparations are under way and that venues are being finalised. Eight teams are expected in the sixth edition: defending champions Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand and hosts UAE. Teams have reportedly been told to arrive on August 27, with the final pencilled in for September 13.
Uncertainty for boards
Despite the schedule circulating internally, the ACC has not ratified it or made the details public. The delay has already had an effect: the BCCI announced India’s squad, then withdrew it, citing the lack of official confirmation from the ACC. Other boards are planning around provisional information, which makes squad selection and logistics harder to settle.
Asian Games clash looming
The timing matters because the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, start only days after the tournament would end. The women’s cricket event there runs from September 17 to 24, so teams will have to manage workloads, travel and player availability across both competitions.
For now, the participating nations are waiting for the ACC to confirm the details so that they can finalise their plans for one of Asia’s major women’s cricket events.
