Pakistan women’s cricket team will begin their campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday against arch-rivals India at the Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham.

The match will start at 6:30pm Pakistan Standard Time.

Pakistan entered the tournament after losing both of their warm-up matches.

In a rain-affected game in Derby, Scotland defeated Pakistan by 41 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had beaten Pakistan by nine wickets.

Following the match in Derby, team mentor Wahab Riaz delivered a 30-minute motivational talk to encourage the players.

The Pakistan women’s squad also met former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur.

The 10th edition of the tournament, hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board from June 12 to July 5, marks the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup in history, with the field expanding from 10 to 12 teams.

A total of 33 matches will be played across seven venues, with the final scheduled for the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 5 July.

Pakistan have been placed in Group 1 alongside record six-time champions Australia, India, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, who will be making their first appearance at the tournament.

Group 2 features defending champions New Zealand, hosts England, 2016 winners West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland.

The top two sides from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for 30 June and 2 July.

Captain Fatima Sana takes charge of the side for the second successive T20 World Cup after having led the team in the 2024 edition held in the UAE.

The 24-year-old all-rounder enters the tournament in extraordinary form, having set the world record for the fastest half-century in Women’s T20Is during Pakistan’s 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe in Karachi last month, reaching 50 off just 15 balls and breaking a record that had previously been jointly held at 18 balls.

Eyman Fatima, Rameen Shamim and Saira Jabeen are set to make their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup debut, while wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, opening batter Gull Feroza and seasoned campaigners Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan are among those expected to play key roles.

Among the current squad, wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with 247 runs in 17 innings, including a highest score of 102 against Ireland in 2023 — the first century for Pakistan women in T20 Internationals.

Left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu tops the bowling chart among the group with 16 wickets in as many appearances, with best figures of 4 for 18, also against Ireland in the 2023 edition.

Following their tournament opener against India, Pakistan will remain at Edgbaston to face South Africa on Wednesday, June 17, before travelling to the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton to take on Bangladesh on Saturday, June 20.

Their fourth fixture is against Australia at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday, June 23,** and the group stage concludes against the Netherlands at the Bristol County Ground on Saturday, June 27.

In the opening match of the tournament, hosts England set a new record, defeating Sri Lanka by 87 runs.

On Saturday, Scotland beat Ireland by 40 runs. Scotland posted 161 for five, while Ireland were bowled out for 121. Kirstie Gordon and Fraser took three wickets each.

In another match, Australia defeated South Africa by 65 runs.