The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India's squad for the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024 on Saturday, July 6. Mumbai Indians' spinner Saika Ishaque has been snubbed for the mega tournament in Sri Lanka starting on July 19.
There were no major surprises in India's 15-member squad for the ninth edition of the tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur continues to lead the team with star cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma keeping their places.
Ishaque, 28, made her international debut in December last year after impressive performances for the champions Mumbai Indians in the WPL 2023. She took five wickets in three T20Is for India but was not part of the ongoing T20I series against South Africa.
Batting all-rounder Amanjot Kaur and young pacer Shabnam Shakil are part of the South Africa series but were snubbed for the Asia Cup 2024.
India Squad for Women's Asia Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.
Travelling reserves: Shweta Sehrawat, Saika Ishaque, Tanuja Kanwer, Meghna Singh.
The Women in Blue are drafted in Group A with Nepal, United Arab Emirates and rivals Pakistan. India will begin their title defence against Pakistan at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on July 19. India are defending champions having won the previous edition by beating Sri Lanka in the final in 2022. India have remarkably won seven of eight editions of the tournament and will once again enter as clear favourites.
India's fixtures at Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024
| No | Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday, July 19 | India vs Pakistan | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| 2 | Sunday, July 21 | India vs UAE | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| 3 | Tuesday, July 23 | India vs Nepal | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
