Historic female-inclusive Asia Cup commences today

The much-awaited Women's Asia Cup, played in the 20-over format since 2012, returns with its eighth edition in Sylhet as the curtain-raiser sees defending champions Bangladesh take on Thailand at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Ground 2 (SICS Outer) today from Bangladesh Standard Time 9:00 am.

The coronavirus pandemic had postponed the biennial event by a couple of years after the previous edition was played in 2018, where Bangladesh broke the complete monopoly India had over the regional competition. The final was a game to remember for everyone, a game which saw the Tigresses bag a three-wicket win with a last-ball thriller to seal their maiden Asia Cup triumph against the six-time winners. 

A competition that featured only two teams – India and Sri Lanka – in its augural edition in 2004 before Pakistan and Bangladesh began participating from the second and fourth edition onwards, respectively, this Asia Cup features as many as seven teams -- including hosts Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and the UAE – aim to fight for the Asian supremacy over the span of two weeks.

Bangladesh team led by Nigar Sultana Joty are well-balanced with a fine blend of youth and experience. "As hosts, we will give 110 per cent to defend our title," said Joty after returning home from the UAE.

"For the first time in history, 7 women's teams will be participating in a complete round robin format. The ACC is constantly striving toward being more inclusive," stated Jay Shah, president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Record participants aside, as maiden hosts, Bangladesh would be part of a historic chapter as all of the two on-field umpires and the match referee are set to feature female figures, composed of the Sri Lankan trio of Dedunu De Silva, Nimali Perera, and Vanessa De Silva.  

"The 2022 edition of the Women's Asia Cup will therefore see more embedded female participation. For the first time ever, an ACC tournament will see an all-female presence on the playing field, with the women's tournament slated to have only female umpires and female match referees. As an organisation, we hope to continue to take steps to strengthen the sport by highlighting female talent in every avenue," further stated the ACC president.

This Asia cup has a lot at stake, as ever, especially considering the top teams taking the tournament as a launching pad to get into the groove ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2023. Bangladesh have come a long way since debuting in the T20 international circuit in 2012 and would want to see their growth curve going upward following a string of impressive performances this year in the format.

Even though the Tigresses missed out on a spot at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games as the result in the decider in January went into Sri Lanka's favour, but following that event, Bangladesh, however unsurprisingly, had sealed their spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup by becoming the unbeaten champions in the recently concluded Qualifiers, held in the UAE. 

Bangladesh team led by Nigar Sultana Joty are well-balanced with a fine blend of youth and experience. "As hosts, we will give 110 per cent to defend our title," said Joty after returning home from the UAE.

As far as tournament favourites are concerned, India remain the team to beat. The latest Commonwealth Games finalists are enjoying a good run of form and despite Jhulan Goswami calling it quits recently, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side appear well balanced without their star performer. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan are undergoing a rebuilding phase. Their Commonwealth Games journey in July was a disappointment as Pakistan lost all three of the games to remain as bottom dwellers in their group. How captain Bismah Maroof marshals her troops without the injured star pacer Fatima Sana will be a tough ask too, and Pakistan's first big obstacle will be in their second game against Bangladesh on October 03. 

Sri Lanka, too, would be eager to see their women go the distance after the men's cricket team sealed the bragging rights earlier in the Asia Cup, held last month. Among the seven teams, the UAE and Malaysia – who booked their Asia Cup berths on the virtue of reaching the final of the 10-team ACC Women's T20 Championship earlier in June – would want to display competitive cricket alongside Thailand. 

As far as the tournament format is concerned, it involves each side playing the other once in a round-robin format. Afterward, the top four sides progress to the semi-finals before the grand finale on October 15.

With women's sports in Bangladesh gaining traction after the sustained and recent success of the country's cricket and football teams alike, the historic all-female on-field Asia Cup could provide a massive boost to the fast-evolving sector as the defending champions could draw crowds in numbers to Sylhet from all parts of Bangladesh.

Experts may deem India as favourites on paper, but given the tournament features the shortest format, the games are prone to be more competitive. And that is why, when The Daily Star asked Bangladesh captain about her expectations in the Asia Cup and about the difference in quality between Bangladesh and other teams, Joty had replied: "In T20 cricket, the difference in levels are very close. Whichever team makes fewer mistakes on a particular day has a higher chance to win the game."