Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a revised schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, now set to be hosted in the United Arab Emirates from October 3 to 20. Originally slated for Bangladesh, the venue change to Dubai and Sharjah comes after a decision made during the ICC Board meeting on August 20.

According to International Cricket Council, the tournament will feature 23 matches across 18 days at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The competition will see ten teams divided into two groups vying for the championship. Group A includes heavyweights like Australia, India, and Pakistan, while Group B features teams such as England, South Africa, and the West Indies.

The event will kick off with Bangladesh facing Scotland in Sharjah, followed by a match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Defending champions Australia begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on October 5 in Sharjah, with a marquee match-up between India and Pakistan scheduled for October 6 in Dubai.

The semi-finals are planned for October 17 and 18, with the final to crown the champions on October 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The warm-up matches will start on September 28 at the Sevens Stadium and the ICC Academy grounds in Dubai.

Despite the change in venue, the Bangladesh Cricket Board retains hosting rights and will collaborate with the Emirates Cricket Board to ensure the event’s success.