India and Sri Lanka will renew their rivalry when the two sides meet in the women's cricket final of the Asian Games, with another gold medal at stake. The final is a repeat of the 2023 Asian Games title clash, and India will enter the contest with confidence after dominating their recent encounters with Sri Lanka. Both teams have reached the final unbeaten in their respective knockout matches, with India defeating Japan and Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka overcame Malaysia and Pakistan. The two sides also met less than ten days ago in the Women's Asia Cup final, where India registered a convincing 72-run victory. India will once again start the final as favourites, but Sri Lanka have the firepower to make the contest competitive. Can Sri Lanka expose India's middle order? India's top order has been in outstanding form, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma providing a formidable opening combination. Shafali, in particular, has been among the tournament's key performers, following an unbeaten 40 against Japan with a century against Bangladesh. However, India's middle order could offer Sri Lanka an opportunity. Harmanpreet Kaur made 40 in the semi-final but has recently found it difficult to score at her usual tempo. G Kamalini and Bharti Fulmali have also yet to make a significant impact despite opportunities higher up the order. Sri Lanka's challenge will be to get past India's dangerous opening pair and expose that middle order. Richa Ghosh, meanwhile, remains a major threat lower down the order, capable of changing the momentum of an innings in a matter of overs. India's bowling attack will also present a significant challenge. Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani have already made an impact during the tournament, while Nandani Sharma could pose a threat with the new ball. Athapaththu key to Sri Lanka's hopes For Sri Lanka, much will once again depend on captain Chamari Athapaththu. The experienced all-rounder has been in outstanding form at the Asian Games, scoring 63 and an unbeaten 83 in her two appearances. She has also contributed with the ball, taking 2 for 3 and 1 for 30. Sri Lanka, however, have shown that they are not solely dependent on their captain. Hasini Perera struck a rapid 42 off 26 balls against Pakistan, while Kavisha Dilhari produced an unbeaten 44 from 27 balls against Malaysia. Harshitha Samarawickrama has also provided useful cameos. Their ability to handle India's spin attack could prove decisive. Sri Lanka will need to maintain their scoring rate while avoiding the kind of pressure that India's bowlers have consistently created. Shafali-Verma challenge awaits Sri Lanka India's biggest threat at the top will be Shafali Verma, who has carried her strong recent form into the Asian Games. After scores of 64 and 68 in her two outings immediately before the Games, Shafali remained unbeaten on 40 against Japan before producing a century against Bangladesh. Alongside Mandhana, she gives India an aggressive opening combination capable of putting a game beyond reach during the powerplay. Athapaththu offers Sri Lanka a similar threat. With both captains capable of producing explosive innings, the battle between the two sides' attacking openers could have a major influence on the final. India hold the head-to-head advantage India have dominated the overall T20I rivalry. The two teams have met 32 times, with India winning 26 matches and Sri Lanka five, while one game ended without a result. Sri Lanka have lost their last seven T20Is against India and have won just once in their last 11 meetings. That record will give India confidence, although Sri Lanka will be looking to put their recent history aside and produce a different result in the gold-medal match. Probable XIs India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, G Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma. Sri Lanka: Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wicketkeeper), Rashmika Sewwandi, Mithali Ayodhya, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari. With both teams arriving in strong form and a gold medal on the line, the final promises another intriguing chapter in the India-Sri Lanka rivalry. India will look to continue their dominance, while Sri Lanka will aim to disrupt the defending champions by striking early with either bat or ball. If rain prevents the final from taking place, the higher-seeded India will be awarded the gold medal.

Shafali Verma produced a breathtaking batting display, smashing an unbeaten 49-ball century as India stormed into the gold-medal match of the 2026 Asian Games with a commanding victory over Bangladesh. Batting first, India posted an imposing 195 for 4, with Shafali finishing unbeaten on 100. The explosive opener struck nine sixes and three fours, reaching her maiden white-ball international century from the final delivery of India's innings. India made a flying start, with Shafali taking the attack to Bangladesh's bowlers from the outset. She raced to 34 from just 17 balls, while Smriti Mandhana provided strong support at the other end. Mandhana scored a brisk 37 from 19 balls, a knock that also saw her become the leading run-scorer in women's T20Is. The opening pair added 72 runs in 36 balls before Mandhana's dismissal. Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Shafali at the crease and gradually found her rhythm after a cautious start. The India captain scored 40 from 33 balls, combining with Shafali for a crucial 94-run partnership for the third wicket. India's middle order had mixed fortunes, with G Kamalini and Richa Ghosh unable to make significant contributions. However, Shafali's late assault ensured India finished with a formidable total. Bangladesh Struggle in the Chase Chasing 196 for victory, Bangladesh never looked in control. Dilara Akter top-scored with 27, but Juairiya Ferdous was dismissed for a duck, while Bangladesh's middle order struggled to build partnerships. India's bowlers struck regularly from the beginning. Nandani Sharma claimed the first wicket in the second over before Kranti Gaud struck in the following over. Shree Charani then removed Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana during the powerplay, leaving the opposition at 38 for 3. Nandani returned to pick up two wickets in the 11th over, further exposing Bangladesh's lower order. Deepti Sharma then wrapped up the innings by dismissing Marufa Akter leg before wicket and having Sanjida Akter caught in the 16th over. Nandani and Deepti both finished with three wickets each, while India's disciplined bowling attack restricted Bangladesh to a modest total. The victory sends India through to the gold-medal match, where they will face Sri Lanka, in a repeat of the 2023 Asian Games final. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will take on Pakistan in the bronze-medal match.

Sri Lanka produced a commanding run chase as captain Chamari Athapaththu smashed an unbeaten 83 off 50 balls to guide her side into the final of the Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition. Athapaththu struck six sixes and several boundaries in a sensational late assault as Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan's target of 178 with ease. The victory saw Sri Lanka equal their highest-ever successful T20I chase. Pakistan, after being asked to bat first, posted 177, their highest T20I total against Sri Lanka. Shawaal Zulfiqar scored a patient 54 off 50 balls, while Ayesha Zafar provided the acceleration with a blistering 71 from just 40 deliveries. Zulfiqar and Zafar added 115 runs for the third wicket from 70 balls, although Zafar was responsible for most of the attacking strokeplay. Her innings included nine fours and two sixes and gave Pakistan a strong platform. Sri Lanka's chase began positively through Imesha Dulani, who struck five boundaries during her 21-ball 27. Athapaththu, however, was initially subdued, reaching only seven runs from 12 balls by the end of the powerplay. The Sri Lankan captain then dramatically changed the momentum in the eighth over. She attacked Momina Riasat, smashing the spinner for 6, 4, 6 and 4 in a 20-run over. Athapaththu was fortunate to survive on 18 when Fatima Sana appeared to have caught her at deep midwicket, only for the fielder to step on the boundary while attempting to throw the ball back into play. The reprieve proved costly for Pakistan. Athapaththu continued her assault against the left-arm spin, taking two fours and a six off Nashra Sandhu in the 10th over to bring Sri Lanka's required rate under control. Hasini Perera then joined the attack, hitting Tuba Hassan for two sixes and a four in the 13th over. Her aggressive 42 from 26 balls helped Sri Lanka build a crucial 95-run partnership with Athapaththu from just 56 deliveries. Perera was dismissed at the end of the 14th over with Sri Lanka still requiring 47 runs from 36 balls. But the chase was effectively under control, with Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama needing only 23 deliveries to complete the victory. Athapaththu remained unbeaten on 83, finishing a remarkable individual performance that combined early patience with explosive hitting in the middle and final stages of the chase. Sri Lanka's victory booked their place in the final, while Pakistan were left to rue missed opportunities and a total that ultimately proved insufficient despite strong contributions from Zafar and Zulfiqar.

Defending champions India will start as strong favourites when they take on Bangladesh in the second semi-final of the Asian Games women's cricket competition on Sunday, with Bangladesh's batting efficiency likely to be a key factor in the contest. India enter the match in excellent form after recently winning the Asia Cup, where they defeated Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Their last T20I defeat came against Australia at the T20 World Cup in June, and they have since recorded six consecutive victories. India's bowling attack has been particularly impressive, with spinners Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani leading the way. The pair have taken a combined 74 wickets in T20 cricket this year, while seamers Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud have provided strong support. There were some concerns around India's middle-order batting and catching during the Asia Cup, but they have rarely been seriously tested by Asian opposition in recent months. Bangladesh Need to Cut Down on Dot Balls Bangladesh enter the semi-final after their quarter-final against China was washed out without a ball being bowled. While their bowling attack has been a major strength, their batting remains an area of concern. Bangladesh have frequently struggled to rotate the strike, allowing too many deliveries to go for no runs. That problem was evident in their Asia Cup semi-final against India, when Bangladesh played out 64 dot balls and eventually fell 40 runs short. Players such as Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana and Shorna Akter possess the ability to score quickly, but Bangladesh will need a collective improvement from their batting unit if they are to challenge the defending champions. India Hold a Dominant Head-to-Head Record The rivalry has been heavily tilted in India's favour. India have won 22 of the 25 T20Is played between the two teams. In their most recent meeting, India comfortably defeated Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semi-final. Earlier in the T20 World Cup, India chased down Bangladesh's target of 137 in just 16.5 overs. Bangladesh's most recent T20I victory over India came in 2023. Marufa Akter and Shafali Verma in Focus Bangladesh will rely heavily on Marufa Akter to make an impact with the new ball. She is Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year with 24 wickets and has taken at least one wicket in each of her last six T20I appearances. India, meanwhile, will look to Shafali Verma to provide another explosive start. Verma had an outstanding Asia Cup, scoring 234 runs, including half-centuries in both the semi-final and final. She also has an impressive record against Bangladesh, having scored four T20I half-centuries against them. In India's opening Asian Games match against Japan, Verma struck an unbeaten 40 from just 15 deliveries and also picked up two wickets. Team News Bangladesh are expected to retain the same XI that featured during the Asia Cup. Probable Bangladesh XI Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana (captain, wicketkeeper), Sharmin Akter, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter. India made one notable change against Japan, with offspinner Shreyanka Patil returning after a three-month absence caused by an ankle injury. G Kamalini is expected to bat at No. 3 after opening against Japan. Probable India XI Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, G Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma. Bangladesh Face a Tough Challenge India's recent form, depth in both batting and bowling, and dominant record against Bangladesh make them the clear favourites on paper. For Bangladesh, however, the key will be to avoid another innings dominated by dot balls. If their top order can rotate the strike more consistently and their bowlers maintain the pressure that has been a feature of their recent performances, Bangladesh will have an opportunity to make India work hard for a place in the final.

Pakistan will take on familiar opponents Sri Lanka in the semi-final of the women's cricket competition at the Asian Games on Sunday, with both sides looking to secure a place in the final. The encounter comes just days after Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the semi-final of the Women's Asia Cup. Pakistan will therefore have an opportunity to respond to that defeat, but they face a Sri Lankan side that has continued to produce strong results in recent matches. Pakistan Look to Bounce Back Pakistan booked their place in the Asian Games semi-final after surviving a major scare against Thailand in a rain-affected quarter-final. Chasing a revised target of 92, Pakistan slipped to 47 for four before captain Fatima Sana steadied the innings and guided her team to victory. Sana's recent performances have underlined her importance to Pakistan. The all-rounder has taken 29 wickets in 19 T20Is this year while also scoring 475 runs at a strike rate of 148.90. She was particularly influential in Pakistan's most recent meeting with Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 47 and taking four wickets in the Asia Cup semi-final. Pakistan will once again look to their captain to deliver with both bat and ball. However, Pakistan's batting remains a concern. They have suffered collapses against Thailand and India in recent matches, and they will need greater consistency if they are to handle Sri Lanka's bowling attack. Sri Lanka Rely on Spin Sri Lanka enter the semi-final with a strong recent record and have used their spin bowling effectively to control matches. Their batting has not always been flawless either, with struggles against Indonesia and Bangladesh, but their bowlers have regularly kept opponents under pressure. Captain Chamari Athapaththu remains the key figure at the top of the order. She has scored 638 runs in 20 T20Is this year at a strike rate of 143.04 and has also taken 26 wickets. Athapaththu comes into the match after an impressive 63 off 37 balls against Malaysia, while her experience will be crucial in another high-pressure contest against Pakistan. Even Head-to-Head Record The two teams have enjoyed an extremely competitive rivalry in T20Is. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have each won 12 of their 25 meetings, with one match ending without a result. Sri Lanka, however, have the psychological advantage of winning the teams' latest encounter in the Asia Cup semi-final on September 11. Pakistan will now attempt to reverse that result and reach the Asian Games final, while Sri Lanka will be aiming to make it two victories in succession against their regional rivals. Team News Pakistan will be without wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali, who is missing the Asian Games because of her mother's illness. Gull Feroza took over wicketkeeping duties and opened the batting against Thailand. Pakistan are expected to field: Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza (wk), Ayesha Zafar, Fatima Sana (capt), Aliya Riaz, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Eman Naseer, Umm-e-Hani, Tasmia Rubab and Nashra Sandhu. Sri Lanka will also be without Nilakshika Silva, who fractured her finger during the Asia Cup and has been ruled out of the Asian Games. Vishmi Gunaratne was dropped from the squad, while batter Hansima Karunaratne and seamer Rashmika Sewwandi have been given opportunities. Sri Lanka's probable XI is: Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Rashmika Sewwandi, Mithali Ayodhya, Chamudi Praboda and Sugandika Kumari. A High-Stakes Rematch With both teams having experienced recent batting collapses, the semi-final could come down to which side handles pressure more effectively. Pakistan will need to find a way to counter Sri Lanka's spinners and avoid another middle-order collapse, while Sri Lanka will look to Athapaththu and their bowling attack to maintain their advantage. For Pakistan, the match offers a chance to respond to their Asia Cup disappointment. For Sri Lanka, it is an opportunity to continue their recent success against their familiar rivals and move one step closer to Asian Games gold.

Defending champions India stormed into the semi-finals of the women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games with a commanding eight-wicket victory over hosts Japan on Friday. After bowling Japan out for just 57 in 19.5 overs, India chased down the modest target of 58 in only five overs to seal a place in the last four. India will face Bangladesh in the semi-final on September 20. Charani Leads India’s Bowling Attack India opted to field first and quickly made the most of a pitch that offered turn and bounce, making it difficult for Japan’s batters to play attacking strokes. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani was once again the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4 for 10 from her four overs. The performance came shortly after her four-wicket haul in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, continuing an impressive run of form. Japan made a promising start as Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato-Stafford added 24 runs for the opening wicket. However, the hosts struggled to build partnerships after Iwasaki’s dismissal. Charani struck twice in consecutive deliveries in the seventh over, removing Iwasaki for 10 before having Japan captain Mai Yanagida caught behind for a duck. She narrowly missed out on a hat-trick. Kato-Stafford top-scored for Japan with a patient 25 off 47 balls, while Iwasaki contributed 10 from 22 deliveries. Japan lost their final eight wickets for just 33 runs. Shafali Verma claimed 2 for 13, while Deepti Sharma took 1 for 14. Shreyanka Patil, returning to international cricket after a three-month injury layoff, picked up 1 for 8 in 3.5 overs. Patil completed Japan's innings by bowling Nonoha Yasumoto for a duck. Shafali Finishes the Chase in Style India's chase was never in serious danger, thanks largely to an explosive start from Shafali Verma. Opening the innings, Shafali smashed four boundaries in the first over to immediately put Japan under pressure. G Kamalini, who replaced Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order, was dismissed by left-arm seamer Yasumoto, while No. 3 Bharti Fulmali was caught at point. Yasumoto also produced a wicket-maiden with the new ball, but Japan had little answer to Shafali's aggressive strokeplay. The India opener finished unbeaten on 40 from just 15 balls, striking six fours and two sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 266.66. Shafali sealed the emphatic victory with a six over long-on, as India reached 59 for 2 in just five overs, winning with 15 overs to spare. With Charani leading the bowling attack and Shafali providing the fireworks in the chase, India delivered a dominant all-round performance to continue their title defence and book their place in the Asian Games semi-finals.

Sri Lanka produced a dominant all-round performance to cruise past Malaysia by 86 runs in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games women's cricket competition. After opting to bat, Sri Lanka posted an imposing 160, thanks largely to aggressive half-centuries from Chamari Athapaththu and a quick-fire contribution from Kavisha Dilhari. Malaysia, in reply, struggled against Sri Lanka's experienced bowling attack and were restricted to 74 for the loss of nine wickets. Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Imesha Dulani was run out in the third over. Dulani's latest low score extended a difficult run of form, with the opener failing to cross 25 in her last eight innings since her century against Pakistan on July 31. Athapaththu then took control of the innings. She combined with Hasini Perera for an 80-run second-wicket partnership from just 53 balls. Athapaththu smashed 56 from 27 deliveries, while Perera contributed 23 off 26 balls. After both batters departed, Dilhari continued the momentum alongside Harshitha Samarawickrama. Dilhari struck an unbeaten 44 from only 27 balls, while the pair added 62 runs from 37 deliveries. Athapaththu finished as Sri Lanka's top scorer with a commanding 63 from 37 balls, setting the platform for a formidable total. Malaysia's Nurin Imanina was the standout bowler for her side. The offspinner claimed 3 for 29 from her four overs, taking all three of Malaysia's wickets to fall to the bowlers. Malaysia's chase got off to a difficult start as they lost three wickets inside the powerplay. Dilhari was particularly effective with the ball, claiming two wickets and finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 4 from three overs. Athapaththu also contributed with the ball, taking 2 for 3 from two overs, while Mithali Ayodhya claimed 2 for 15 from her three overs as Sri Lanka's bowling attack kept Malaysia under constant pressure. There was some resistance from the Malaysian batting lineup. Winifred Duraisingam top-scored with 28, although she needed 47 balls to reach the mark. Mahirah Izzati Ismail added 24 from 42 deliveries, but Malaysia were unable to accelerate against Sri Lanka's disciplined attack. The comprehensive victory underlined the gulf in experience between the two sides, with Sri Lanka's recent run of strong performances in international cricket reflected in their dominant display. The win sends Sri Lanka into the next stage of the Asian Games women's competition.

Two-time Asian Games gold medallists Pakistan survived a major scare from Thailand to book their place in the women’s cricket semi-finals with a tense three-wicket victory in a rain-reduced quarter-final on Thursday. Chasing a revised target of 92 runs from 11 overs, Pakistan endured a dramatic middle-order collapse before captain Fatima Sana produced a match-changing assault to swing the contest in her side’s favour. Pakistan will now face Bangladesh in the semi-final on September 20. The match was delayed by nearly two hours because of a wet outfield. After the toss, Pakistan elected to bowl, but Thailand made the most of the shortened contest. Thailand reached 20 for 1 during the reduced powerplay, with Fatima Sana dismissing experienced opener Natthakan Chantham. Nannapat Koncharoenkai then took charge of the innings, attacking the Pakistan bowlers around the ground. Koncharoenkai accelerated after the sixth over, hitting consecutive boundaries off Umm-e-Hani in a 14-run over. Thailand captain Naruemol Chaiwai also contributed with attacking strokes as the pair put Pakistan under pressure. Koncharoenkai moved towards a half-century but was dismissed for 49 from 38 balls in the final over when she missed a full delivery from Sana and was trapped lbw. Thailand finished with a competitive total of 91. Pakistan began the chase strongly, with Shawaal Zulfiqar hitting three fours and a six inside the first three overs. However, Thailand quickly turned the match around by claiming four wickets for just 11 runs in 14 balls. Zulfiqar was caught and bowled by offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu, while Ayesha Zafar departed for 1. Gull Feroza was then stumped for 16 after advancing down the track against Kamchomphu, before Aliya Riaz was also dismissed by the same bowler. Pakistan were reduced to 47 for 4, needing 45 runs from 30 balls, leaving Thailand firmly in contention. Fatima Sana then changed the momentum in the eighth over. With Pakistan requiring 44 from 24 deliveries, the captain smashed three consecutive boundaries — two fours and a six — before another misfield at long-off resulted in a boundary. Eyman Fatima followed with a six to cap a 25-run over, reducing Pakistan’s requirement to 19 from 18 balls. Despite losing Sana at the start of the next over, Pakistan remained within reach. Eyman Fatima was dismissed in the 10th over with Pakistan still needing 15 from 10 deliveries. Tuba Hassan then produced another crucial burst, striking a six and a four from consecutive balls to leave Pakistan needing only four runs from seven deliveries. Hassan was caught at fine leg off the final ball of the 10th over, but Eman Naseer and Umm-e-Hani kept their composure, collecting four singles from the next four deliveries to complete a dramatic three-wicket victory. The result sends Pakistan into the semi-finals, where they will meet Bangladesh on September 20, with a place in the Asian Games final at stake.

The opening quarter-final was called off without a ball being bowled, with the toss also failing to take place. Bangladesh progressed to the last four by virtue of their higher seeding in the tournament. The match was initially delayed as officials waited for the playing conditions to improve. However, the wet outfield prevented the game from getting underway, and the match was eventually abandoned. Bangladesh will now face the winner of the quarter-final between India and Japan in the semi-finals on September 20. The women’s competition began directly with the quarter-final stage, with two matches scheduled for Thursday and two more on Friday. Pakistan are set to face Thailand later on Thursday, while Friday’s fixtures include Malaysia against Sri Lanka and India against Japan. Both semi-finals are scheduled to take place on September 20, with the women’s final set for September 22. All women’s matches in the tournament are being played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, on the outskirts of Nagoya, Japan. The men’s competition is scheduled to begin on September 24.

Sri Lanka have announced a strong 15-member women’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with wicketkeeper-batter Anushka Sanjeewani, top-order batter Hansima Karunaratne and seamer Rashmika Sewwandi returning to the national setup. The squad will be led by experienced captain Chamari Athapaththu, with several key players, including Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari and Sugandika Kumari, also included as Sri Lanka look to make a strong start to the tournament. Sanjeewani, Karunaratne and Sewwandi have all represented Sri Lanka since June and have now been rewarded with places in the Asian Games squad. However, there are notable omissions from the team. Batters Vishmi Gunaratne and Nilakshika Silva have not been selected. Silva had been in impressive form earlier this year but suffered a fractured finger during the Asia Cup. Gunaratne, who made her international debut as a teenager and is now 21, has also seen a recent dip in her run-scoring form. Spin-bowling allrounder Dewmi Vihanga is another absentee. She was initially included in Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup squad but was withdrawn after suffering a knee injury. Nimasha Meepage, who replaced Vihanga in that squad, has retained her place in the Asian Games team. Despite the omissions, Sri Lanka’s squad is close to full strength and features a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging players. Eight teams will compete in the women’s cricket event at the Asian Games, with Sri Lanka joined by India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, China, Malaysia and hosts Japan. Sri Lanka will begin their campaign against Malaysia on Friday in what is expected to be a knockout-style tournament, making the opening match particularly important. Sri Lanka squad for 2026 Asian Games Chamari Athapaththu (captain) Imesha Dulani Sanjana Kavindi Hansima Karunaratne Harshitha Samarawickrama Anushka Sanjeewani Kavisha Dilhari Hasini Perera Kaushini Nuthyangana Nimasha Meepage Sugandika Dasanayaka Rashmika Sewwandi Chamudi Praboda Mithali Ayodhya Kawya Kavindi