Samaira Dharnidharka to lead UAE in the ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 in Malaysia

DUBAI: Pacer Samaira Dharnidharka will lead the 14-member UAE Women’s U19 team in the 13-team ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 which begins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday, 11 July. The tournament is the qualifier for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 which will be played later this year.

The top four teams from the Premier Cup — winners of the four quarterfinals — will earn qualification for the Asia Cup. The UAE have been drawn in Group B with Oman and Bhutan. The UAE play Oman in their opening game on July 11 at the YSD UKM before facing Bhutan on July 14 at the Bayuemas Oval.

The top two teams from each of the four tournament groups will compete in the quarterfinals which will be played on Friday, July 15. The semifinals will be played on Sunday, July 17 with the final scheduled for Monday, July 18 at the Bayuemas Oval. The winners of the quarterfinals will earn ACC Women’s U-19 Asia Cup 2026 qualification.

The UAE U19 Women’s squad consists of: Samaira Dharnidharka, (captain), Afsha Afzal Khan, Al-Maseera Jahangir, Avanee Patil, Emily Thomas (wicketkeeper), Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Mehak Thakur, Neha Kumari, Rishitha Rajith, Sai Nikhil Thite, Simran Sheth and Vaishnave Mahesh.

ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 — UAE matches schedule:

Saturday, 11 July — UAE vs Oman, YSD UKM Oval, 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, 14 July — UAE vs Bhutan, Bayuemas Oval, 2 p.m.

Friday, 15 July — Quarterfinals

Sunday, 17 July — Semifinals, Bayuemas Oval

Monday, 18 July — Third position playoff and final, Bayuemas Oval