Asian Games 2023: India women's cricket team to face Malaysia in opener

India women’s cricket team will get their campaign in the 2023 Asian Games underway against Malaysia in Hangzhou. India will face Malaysia at the Zhejiang University of Technology, Pingfeng Cricket Field on 21 September (Thursday) in the quarter-finals. Other teams in contention in the last-eight are Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. If India win, they will meet the victor of Bangladesh vs Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka is the other likely semi-final. India are overwhelming favourites to clinch the gold medal in the discipline. The team which boasts of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana has been the team to beat in continental tournaments. They’ve won all but one Women’s Asia Cup trophies. The Indian team have not been in action since a dramatic and controversial end to the series in Bangladesh. The punishment handed down to Harmanpreet will see her miss the quarter-finals and semi-finals, should India make it. She would be up for selection in the gold medal match - if India make it. Indonesia made a mark on the opening day of competition by dismissing Mongolia for just 15 runs to register a comprehensive 172 run win. Elsewhere, Malaysia beat Hong Kong in the preliminary round. In the clash between Mongolia and Hong Kong, played on Wednesday to determine the final entry into the quarters, Hong Kong won by 180 runs. Once again, Mongolia were bowled out for a low score - 22 runs. India’s squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Devika Vaidya, Titas Sadhu, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Minnu Mani, Kanika Ahuja, Uma Chetry (wk), Anusha Bareddy, Pooja Vastrakar.