Women's T20 World Cup opens with England and South Africa

England will take on South Africa in the opening match of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup in Dhaka on 3 October, according to the tournament schedule released on Sunday. Hosts Bangladesh will also open their campaign on the opening day, taking on one of the qualifiers, also in Dhaka.

Defending champions Australia will take on the other qualifier in Sylhet on October 4. The marquee match between India and Pakistan will be played in Sylhet on October 6.

Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan have been drawn in Group A with one qualifier each, while South Africa, England, West Indies and Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B with the other qualifier.

All Group A matches will be played in Sylhet, while Group B matches will be held in Dhaka.

The tournament, which will be hosted by Bangladesh, is scheduled to begin on October 3 and conclude with the final on October 20 in Dhaka. The semi-finals will be played in Sylhet on October 17 and in Dhaka on October 18.

The 23 matches will be played in Dhaka and Sylhet. Bangladesh is hosting the Women's T20 World Cup for the second time.

Australia are the defending champions after beating South Africa in the final of the 2023 T20 World Cup in Cape Town.

The two remaining Women's T20 World Cup places will be decided on Sunday when Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Scotland, and Ireland meet in the semi-finals of the global qualifying tournament in Abu Dhabi.