Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team will seek to reach the final of the 2026 Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai, captain Nigar Sultana Joty said. The eight-team tournament starts on August 28 and runs until September 13, with all 15 matches scheduled in Dubai. Bangladesh are in Group B with defending champions Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, and open their campaign against Indonesia on August 31.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. Group A includes India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Thailand. India are among the leading favourites, having won three of five Women’s T20 Asia Cups and finished runners-up in the other two. Sri Lanka won the 2024 title after beating India and have recorded 10 wins in 13 matches this year.

Sri Lanka are expected to be Bangladesh’s toughest group opponent. They have won 13 of 16 T20 meetings between the sides, who will face each other on September 6. Joty said Bangladesh are placing greater emphasis on their preparation than statistics, citing floodlit training and matches at home to adjust to Dubai’s heat and conditions.