Nepal will open their 2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup against ACC Women's Premier Cup winners the United Arab Emirates on July 19.

The T20 Asia Cup—the ninth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup—is scheduled to take place from July 19 to 28 in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.

Drawn in Group A, Nepal will play their next group match against 2012 and 2016 runners-up Pakistan on July 21 and end their group stage by taking on defending champions India on July 23.

Nepal had initially failed to qualify for the Asia Cup after losing their ACC Women’s Premier Cup semi-final match against Malaysia by four wickets at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur in February. The Asian Cricket Council had originally announced that only two finalists of the Premier Cup would join full members Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at this year’s edition.

However, Nepal and Thailand were later included in the tournament as semi-finalists after the ACC announced the expansion of the tournament to eight teams—one more than the previous edition in 2022.

Nepal also announced a 15-member final squad for the Asia Cup on Wednesday.

It will be Nepal’s third appearance at the biennial competition after previously participating in the tournament in 2012 in China and 2016 in Thailand.

Group B includes 2018 winners Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand.

India are the most successful side of the competition, having won seven of the last eight editions.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played on July 26.

The final is set for July 28.

Nepal squad

Indu Barma (C), Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana Magar, Bindu Rawal, Kabita Kunwar, Puja Mahato, Kabita Joshi, Samjhana Khadka, Kajol Shrestha, Sabnam Rai, Rajmati Airee, Mamta Chaudhary, Kritika Marasini, Roma Thapa, Dolly Bhatta