The group stage of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 finished on Tuesday night, and the last of the four semi-final spots went to Bangladesh. That settled a bracket most people had guessed a week ago — India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh — but it took until the twelfth match to confirm it.
Here is the full knockout schedule, who plays whom, the squads and where to watch.
Women's Asia Cup 2026 Semi-Final Schedule
The two semi-finals are on consecutive evenings, both at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which has staged every match of this tournament.
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Local (UAE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 10 | Semi-Final 1: India W vs Bangladesh W | 8:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
| Fri, Sep 11 | Semi-Final 2: Sri Lanka W vs Pakistan W | 8:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
| Sun, Sep 13 | Final | 8:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
The toss for each match is half an hour before the start, at 7:30 PM IST. There is no reserve day listed for the semi-finals in the published schedule.
How the Four Teams Qualified
Group A came down to net run rate rather than drama. India won all three of their matches — against Thailand, Hong Kong China and Pakistan — to finish on six points with a net run rate of +5.775, comfortably the best in the tournament. Pakistan took second place on four points after a 72-run win over Hong Kong China in their final group game.
Group B followed the same shape. Sri Lanka, the defending champions, won all three to top the pool on six points. Bangladesh needed to beat the UAE on Tuesday and did, by 34 runs, in a low-scoring game: Bangladesh posted 103 for 7, with Sharmin Akhter making 38 off 31 and captain Nigar Sultana adding 23, and then bowled the hosts out for 69 for 9. Marufa Akter's new-ball spell set that up.
The UAE and Indonesia went out of Group B; Thailand and Hong Kong China went out of Group A.
| Group | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | India (6 pts) | Pakistan (4 pts) |
| Group B | Sri Lanka (6 pts) | Bangladesh (4 pts) |
The bracket is set up so that the Group A winner meets the Group B runner-up, which is why India draw Bangladesh and Sri Lanka draw Pakistan.
India vs Bangladesh: Head-to-Head and What to Expect
India lead the women's T20I head-to-head 20-3 across 23 matches. Since 2020 the gap has been similar — 13 wins to three. In the 2024 Asia Cup semi-final India won by ten wickets.
Bangladesh's one genuinely famous result against India is still the 2018 Women's Asia Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, where they chased down India's 112 for 9 to win their first title. That match is the reason this fixture never quite reads as a formality, even when the numbers say it should.
India arrive in far better touch. Smriti Mandhana made 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong China on September 3, the highest score in Women's Asia Cup history and her 18th international century. Shafali Verma reached 3,000 women's T20I runs against Pakistan, faster by balls faced than anyone before her. Shree Charani, the top-ranked bowler in the women's T20I rankings, took 3 for 7 in that same game as Pakistan were dismissed for 55. Our full report on that match covers the India vs Pakistan result and India's route through Group A.
Bangladesh's batting has been their problem all tournament — 103 for 7 was enough against the UAE but would not be against this Indian attack. Their route to an upset runs through Marufa Akter with the new ball and their spinners squeezing the middle overs on a Dubai surface that has held up slow all fortnight.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: The Second Semi-Final
Sri Lanka come in as defending champions and the only other unbeaten side. Chamari Athapaththu remains the player the opposition plans around, and the 2024 title run showed this group can win from behind.
Pakistan will want a different game to the one they had against India. Fatima Sana took 3 for 17 in that match and has been the most reliable part of a side whose batting has repeatedly failed to build partnerships. Against Hong Kong China they looked much better, which is the version they need on Friday.
Squads for the Four Semi-Finalists
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Gunalan Kamalini, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Mithali Ayodya, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Sanjana Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Hasini Perera, Chamudi Praboda, Dewmi Vihanga, Chethana Vimukthi.
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Eyman Fatima, Umm-e-Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Momina Riasat, Eman Naseer, Waheeda Akhtar.
Bangladesh: led by Nigar Sultana, with Sharmin Akhter and Marufa Akter the standout performers of the group stage.
Where to Watch the Semi-Finals
| Region | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India & subcontinent | Sony Sports Network | SonyLIV |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | T Sports app |
| Pakistan | PTV Network | PTV digital |
| Sri Lanka | TV1 | TV1 digital portal |
| United Kingdom | Sony MAX | Sony network digital |
| MENA | STARZPLAY Cricket | STARZPLAY app |
Conclusion
India have never lost a group stage at this tournament, and they have not looked close to losing a match in this one. What they are carrying is the 2024 final, when Sri Lanka beat them — and Sri Lanka are one win away from being on the other side of the ropes again on September 13. Beat Bangladesh on Thursday and India get the rematch they have wanted for two years. For a wider view of the players shaping the game this year, see our list of the top 10 cricket players in 2026.
Fixtures, timings and broadcast details are as published by the Asian Cricket Council and rights holders, and may change. Squads are as announced for the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is India's semi-final in the Women's Asia Cup 2026?
India play Bangladesh in the first semi-final on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Toss is at 7:30 PM IST and the match starts at 8:00 PM IST, which is 6:30 PM local time in the UAE.
Which four teams qualified for the Women's Asia Cup 2026 semi-finals?
India and Pakistan from Group A, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from Group B. India and Sri Lanka topped their groups with six points each; Pakistan and Bangladesh finished second on four points each.
What is the India vs Bangladesh head-to-head record in women's T20Is?
India lead 20-3 from 23 completed matches. Bangladesh's biggest win over India came in the 2018 Women's Asia Cup final, while India won the 2024 Asia Cup semi-final between the sides by ten wickets.
How can I watch the Women's Asia Cup 2026 semi-finals live in India?
On the Sony Sports Network on TV, and on the SonyLIV app and website for streaming. Bangladesh viewers get T Sports, Pakistan has PTV, Sri Lanka has TV1 and the UK has Sony MAX.
When and where is the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final?
Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, starting at 8:00 PM IST. Sri Lanka are the defending champions after beating India in the 2024 final.