CWG: India to face Australia in women's T20 tournament opener
India will lock horns with Australia in the opening game of women's T20 competition on July 29 at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Hosts England will open their campaign against a qualifier a day later. Edgbaston in Birmingham will host all matches in the tournament. Notably, women's cricket will make its debut at the Commonwealth Games next year. Here are further details.
Why does it matter?
This is the first time that women's cricket will feature at the Commonwealth Games. Notably, the sport was last played in a multi-sporting tournament in 1998. A List A men's tournament was held at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In August this year, the ICC confirmed that the "campaign to get cricket back into the Olympic Games is on".
Eight teams, including a qualifier, to feature in the tournament
A total of eight teams will feature in the T20 competition. Seven of these were confirmed in April this year. The eighth team will be decided through a qualifying tournament, starting in January 2022. In the main draw, the teams have been split into two groups of four. The top two from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Gold-medal match to take place on August 7
The group stage clashes will conclude on August 4 with the England-New Zealand match. Meanwhile, the two semi-finals will take place on August 6. The bronze and gold medal matches are scheduled to be held on August 7.
India and Pakistan to square off on July 31
The 2020 Women's T20 World Champions Australia will take on runners-up India in the opening match on July 29. Two days later, India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in what is expected to be a cracker of a contest. On August 3, Team India will face Barbados, the national team from the West Indies which confirmed to take part in the tournament.
A look at the schedule (Group A)
A look at the schedule (Group A) - Australia vs India: July 29. Pakistan vs Barbados: July 29. India vs Pakistan: July 31. Barbados vs Australia: July 31. Australia vs Pakistan: August 3. India vs Barbados: August 3.
A look at the schedule (Group B and knockouts)
New Zealand vs South Africa: July 30 England vs CWGQ: Saturday July 30 England vs South Africa: August 2 CWGQ vs New Zealand: August 2 South Africa vs CWGQ: August 4 England vs New Zealand: August 4 Semi-final 1: August 6 Semi-final 2: August 6 Bronze medal match: August 7 Final: August 7
