The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, with 10 nations vying for the trophy across two venues and 23 matches. On October 3, the competition will begin at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, a fixture on the international cricket scene.
The Dubai International Stadium (DIS), which will also host the Final on October 20, will then take main stage the following day.
Here, we examine the two locations in more detail as well as a few of the most notable games that have taken place there.
International Stadium in Dubai
The 25,000-seat Dubai International Stadium opened its doors in 2009, making it the more recent of the two arenas in use.
Shahid Afridi starred in both the ODI series and the T20 series that followed Pakistan’s match against Australia in April of that year, which was the first international event held on the ground.
Its first women’s ODI was Pakistan vs. West Indies in February 2019, and in September 2023, the UAE hosted Namibia in the first women’s T20 international hosted by DIS.
Thirteen matches were held at DIS for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021. In the championship match, Australia won their first-ever title by defeating New Zealand by eight wickets.
The West Indies’ 55 all out against England was the lowest score by a Full Member side in a Men’s T20 World Cup match, while Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets in the Super 12.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will take place in Dubai International Stadium for 12 games, culminating in the championship game on October 20. On October 4, the tournament’s opening matches will pit the 2023 finalists South Africa against the 2016 winners West Indies, followed by India against New Zealand.
Other notable games at the venue are the Group A encounter between India and Pakistan and the Group B championship game between England, the 2009 winners, and the West Indies.
Cricket Stadium in Sharjah
Over 200 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) have taken place at Sharjah Cricket Stadium since it opened in 1982. The inaugural ODI match took place in April 1984 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
During the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, Sharjah Cricket Stadium served as one of four sites
It saw 11 group-stage matches, including a close victory by South Africa against England. The pitch has grown to be so popular on the international circuit that, just over ten years ago, it was added to the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the most One-Day Internationals (ODIs). With a capacity of 16,000, it has gained popularity as a site especially for South Asian teams, as seen by the large numbers of foreign visitors who frequent the area.
On January 9, 2015, Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka for the first-ever women’s ODI. Six days later, the two teams competed in the first-ever women’s T20 international at the same venue.
In commemoration of the Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th birthday in 2023, the West Stand has been renamed the Sachin Tendulkar Stand. This location holds special significance since it was the site of his famous 134 off 131 balls when India defeated Australia in the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup final, needing to chase down 273.
Also Read: Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: How Teams qualified
During the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the venue will host 11 matches, including the opening doubleheader on October 3 between Bangladesh and Scotland and Pakistan and Sri Lanka. On October 18, it will also play host to the second semi-final. Other notable games that will take place there are the Group A match between Australia and India and the Group B match between England and South Africa.