In cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur-led India will begin their Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Sophie Devine’s New Zealand in Dubai this evening. Meanwhile, the West Indies will face South Africa in the match scheduled for the afternoon. Akashvani will broadcast bilingual off-tube live commentary in Hindi and English of the match.

Team India is already slotted in a tough group with the likes of New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in Group A. They will aim to start the tournament on a winning note, having already gained confidence from their two warm-up fixture wins. In recent years, India has taken huge strides in the Women’s T20 World Cup, finishing as runners-up in the 2020 edition and making it to the semi-finals in both the 2018 and 2023 editions of the tournament. Meanwhile, New Zealand has not reached the semi-final of an ICC event since 2016 and is coming off 10 straight losses in their last T20Is.

Yesterday, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs in the second match of the tournament played in Sharjah. Chasing a modest target of 117 runs on a slow pitch, Sri Lanka could only manage 85 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Fatima Sana, Omaima Sohail, and Nashra Sandhu took two wickets each. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss, opted to bat first, and scored 116, losing all their wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana was the top scorer with 30 runs. For Sri Lanka, skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Udeshika Prabodhani, and Sugandika Kumari took three wickets each, while Kavisha Dilhari claimed one wicket. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana was declared Player of the Match.