Australia the favorite as Women's T20 World Cup kicks off in UAE

Bigger and better is the mantra for women's cricket as the T20 World Cup gets underway on Thursday. The International Cricket Council is hopeful of another stellar outing for the globe's top female cricketers following the success of the 2023 edition in South Africa and building on the momentum provided by India's triumph in the men's tournament this summer. A major stumbling block was overcome after host Bangladesh suffered political turmoil and domestic instability just months before the tournament's start.