Richa Ghosh bats during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Group 1 cricket match between India and Pakistan in Birmingham, England. (PTI)

India and Pakistan will meet in the marquee clash of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 5, after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced the tournament schedule on Thursday.The tournament will begin on August 28 with Thailand taking on Hong Kong. This will be the sixth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup to be played in the T20 format.Eight teams have been divided into two groups. Group A features India, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong China and China, while defending champions Sri Lanka are in Group B alongside Bangladesh, UAE and Indonesia.The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, with the final scheduled for September 13.All matches will be played under lights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with a local start time of 6.30 pm.Sri Lanka enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the previous edition. Bangladesh won the title in 2018, while India remain the most successful team in the competition with three titles, having lifted the trophy in 2012, 2016 and 2022.Women’s Asia Cup 2026 full schedule28 August: Thailand vs Hong Kong, China29 August: Sri Lanka vs UAE30 August: India vs Thailand31 August: Bangladesh vs Indonesia1 September: Pakistan vs Thailand2 September: Sri Lanka vs Indonesia3 September: India vs Hong Kong, China4 September: UAE vs Indonesia5 September: India vs Pakistan6 September: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh7 September: Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China8 September: Bangladesh vs UAE10 September: Semi-final 111 September: Semi-final 213 September: Final