Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: Newcomers Scotland take on former champions England and West Indies in Group B

Group B kicks off the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as Scotland become the 12th team to play in the tournament.

They face a burgeoning Bangladesh on October 3 before stern tests come against the only two teams other than Australia to have lifted the trophy in this format.

England won the first edition 15 years ago with the West Indies shocking the world in 2016 and the last member of the five-strong group South Africa will look to join them having made their maiden final appearance in 2023.

Bangladesh

The original hosts of the 2024 edition, Bangladesh arrive in the UAE on the back of a sprinkling of fine results.

The Tigers recorded only their third-ever T20I series win against Pakistan last year, with their spinners earning them two victories in the three-match series.

Spin is expected to be key in this World Cup, with captain Nigar Sultana Joty able to call on five spinners, including all-rounder Shorna Akter, who at 17 is a star for the future.

Akter starred with the bat in the series-clinching win over Pakistan, while Bangladesh have selected two uncapped players to present somewhat of an unknonw quantity.

England

England will hope to avoid adding to their run of two consecutive World Cups without reaching the final, their longest drought in the T20 competition.

The 2009 champions will see several players make their World Cup debuts with pace bowler Freya Kemp partnering Lauren Bell after the retirement of Katherine Sciver-Brunt.

Meanwhile, Maia Bouchier is expected to open the batting as she looks to make her World Cup debut having not played in the 2023 edition despite being in the squad.

England suffered only one T20I defeat this summer, losing to Ireland having whitewashed Pakistan and New Zealand, with a T20 series triumph over Australia also coming in the Ashes last year.

Scotland

Scotland have reached their first World Cup after beating Ireland in the final qualifiers earlier this year.

The lowest-ranked side in the competition are led by all-rounder Kathryn Bryce, with her sister Sarah as vice-captain.

The pair were in the middle as qualification was secured after Kathryn had taken four wickets for eight to set up the victory.

Of the nine other teams in this World Cup, Scotland have only ever faced Bangladesh and Sri Lanka without registering a win.

South Africa

South Africa rode a wave of home support as they became the first senior Proteas side to make it to a World Cup final last year.

Tasting defeat to Australia in the showpiece in Cape Town, the Proteas have been busy in their preparations to go one better.

The side now led by Laura Wolvaardt got revenge over the reigning champions in Canberra at the beginning of the year.

They lost that series, also losing to Sri Lanka, and have drawn series with Bangladesh, India, New Zealand before victory came over Pakistan earlier this month.

West Indies

A legend has returned as the West Indies try to recapture the form that powered them to the title in 2016.

Deandra Dottin is back in the fold having reversed her retirement, with Stafanie Taylor also back to full fitness.

Captain Hayley Matthews will again be expected to play a key role with bat and ball as she partners fellow off-spinner and rising star Karishma Rahmarack.

Victories over Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Asia have prepared the women in maroon well for the conditions they will face in the UAE while a sparkling win over Australia showed what is possible for this developing side.