Women's Asia Cup 2026: Full Schedule, Points Table & NRR Qualification Guide

The 10th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup is underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, running from August 28 to September 13, and it has already produced one of the most lopsided bowling performances in the format’s history. Eight teams, two groups of four, and only two spots per group into the semi-finals means every result in the next week carries real weight. This guide covers the full schedule, exactly how the points table and Net Run Rate work, and which upcoming matches actually decide who plays on past September 8.

The Format: Eight Teams, Two Groups, One Venue

Every match of the tournament is being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The eight teams are split into two groups of four, each playing a single round-robin against its three group opponents before the top two from each side cross over into the semi-finals.

• Group A: India, Pakistan, Hong Kong China, Thailand
• Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE (hosts), Indonesia

With only four teams per group and three games each, there is very little margin for a bad result — a single defeat can be the difference between qualifying with a match to spare and needing a favour from Net Run Rate on the final group day.

Full Group-Stage Schedule

How Points Are Awarded

The group stage uses the standard T20I points structure — the same one behind every points table this site covers, from the IPL to the Lanka Premier League:

• Win: 2 points
• Tie or no result: 1 point each
• Loss: 0 points

A team that wins all three group games finishes on 6 points and is close to certain of a semi-final spot. The tighter scenario is two or three points, where a single result either side of the group can swing who finishes second — and that is where Net Run Rate decides the order.

How Net Run Rate Breaks Ties

When teams are level on points, the side with the higher Net Run Rate (NRR) ranks above. NRR measures how much faster a team scores than it concedes, added up across every completed group match:

Two details catch people out every tournament:

• A team bowled out uses its full 20 overs in the calculation, not the overs it actually faced. Being dismissed cheaply in a handful of overs is far worse for NRR than losing off the last ball.
• No-result matches are excluded entirely — neither the runs nor the overs from an abandoned game count, even though both sides still collect a point.

For the full method and worked examples, see how to calculate Net Run Rate. To model your own scenario, our Required NRR Calculator takes a team’s current runs and overs and projects a hypothetical result forward, and the aggregate NRR Calculator totals several completed matches at once.

Where the Groups Stand

Group A has been the more one-sided of the two so far. India opened with a 94-run win over Thailand (159/9 to 65) behind a 36-ball 64 from Shafali Verma, then beat Hong Kong China by 137 runs on September 3, restricting them to 56. Pakistan also has two points on the board after beating Thailand on September 1 behind Muneeba Ali and their spin attack. That sets up September 5’s India v Pakistan match as close to a Group A decider — both sides still have Hong Kong China left to play, so the winner takes clear control of top spot with a game in hand, while the loser is pushed toward needing results elsewhere and a healthy NRR to stay safe.

Group B has been just as lopsided at the top: defending champions Sri Lanka beat UAE by nine wickets in the tournament opener on August 29, then bowled Indonesia out for 49 to win by 75 runs on September 2 — Chamari Athapaththu took 7 for 5, the fifth-best bowling figures recorded in women’s T20I history. Sri Lanka’s September 6 game against Bangladesh is the one to watch for who finishes top of Group B, with UAE and Indonesia needing results to break into the top two as hosts and reigning Asia Cup Rising Stars form give UAE an outside chance if Sri Lanka slip.

The Semi-Final Crossover

Rather than pairing group-mates in the knockouts, the tournament crosses the groups over: the Group A winner faces the Group B runner-up in the first semi-final on September 10, and the Group B winner faces the Group A runner-up in the second semi-final on September 11. Both winners meet in the final on September 13. That structure is exactly why the order teams finish in — not just whether they qualify — matters: finishing first avoids the other group’s form team until the final.

Track Points and NRR Automatically with CricPulse

Following a multi-team group stage by hand means recalculating the points table and NRR after every match. CricPulse keeps both current automatically as you score, so a club or local tournament run in parallel with the Asia Cup does not need a separate spreadsheet. Set the tournament up once and the table updates itself ball by ball — free on iOS and Android.

For the equivalent breakdown at the global tournament, read our Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 points table and qualification guide, and for more on the wider growth of the women’s game see our 2026 women’s cricket growth guide. To build or check your own tournament table, try the Points Table Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams are at the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, and how do they qualify for the semi-finals?
Eight teams — India, Pakistan, Hong Kong China and Thailand in Group A; Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Indonesia in Group B. Each team plays the other three in its group once. The top two from each group advance to the semi-finals; the bottom two are eliminated.

How many points is a win worth at the Women’s Asia Cup 2026?
The standard T20I points structure applies — 2 points for a win, 1 point each for a tie or no result, and 0 for a loss. When teams are level on points, Net Run Rate ranks them.

How is Net Run Rate calculated?
NRR = (your total runs scored ÷ total overs faced) minus (total runs conceded ÷ total overs bowled), added up across every completed group match. If a team is bowled out, its full 20 overs count in the calculation rather than the overs it actually faced.

Who do group winners play in the semi-finals?
The tournament crosses over rather than pairing group-mates. The Group A winner plays the Group B runner-up in the first semi-final (September 10), and the Group B winner plays the Group A runner-up in the second semi-final (September 11). The final is September 13.

Why does the India vs Pakistan match on September 5 matter so much?
Both sides opened Group A with wins — India beat Thailand and Hong Kong, Pakistan beat Thailand — and each still has to play Hong Kong. A win effectively puts a team in control of top spot in Group A with a game in hand, while a loss leaves them relying on other results and NRR to be safe for the semi-finals.

Does a no-result or washed-out match affect Net Run Rate?
No. An abandoned or no-result match is excluded from the NRR calculation entirely — neither the runs nor the overs from that match are counted, though both teams still get a point each.