Newcomers Scotland take on former champions England and West Indies in Group B

Scotland is the 12th team to play in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, and they will begin play in Group B.

On October 3, they take on a rapidly developing Bangladesh team. Two of the only other teams to have won the trophy in this format, Australia and New Zealand, are the opponents for tough tests.

The West Indies stunned the world in 2016 and South Africa, the final member of the five-person group, will try to join England, who won the first edition fifteen years ago. South Africa will make their first final participation in 2023.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh, the initial hosts of the 2024 tournament, travel to the UAE after a string of excellent performances.

Last year, the Tigers won two of the three T20I series matches against Pakistan thanks to the efforts of their spinners, only their third-ever series win.

This World Cup is predicted to be heavily reliant on spin, and captain Nigar Sultana Joty will have access to five spinners, including 17-year-old all-rounder Shorna Akter.

In the series-winning victory over Pakistan, Akter shone at the bat, and Bangladesh has chosen two uncapped players who are somewhat of an unknown commodity.

England

England's goal in the T20 competition is to avoid prolonging their record of two World Cups in a row without making it to the final.

Following Katherine Sciver-Brunt's retirement, pace bowler Freya Kemp will partner Lauren Bell for the 2009 champions as a number of players make their World Cup debuts.

Although she was included in the squad, Maia Bouchier is anticipated to open the batting in an attempt to make her World Cup debut.

England won a T20 series against Australia in the Ashes last year and only lost one T20I match this summer, to Ireland, after thrashing Pakistan and New Zealand.

Scotland

Following their victory against Ireland in the final qualifiers earlier this year, Scotland has advanced to their first World Cup.

All-rounder Kathryn Bryce leads the team with the lowest ranking in the competition, while her sister Sarah serves as vice-captain.

With the victory won and Kathryn having taken four wickets for eight to set the tone, the two were in the middle.

Scotland has only lost its two World Cup matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka among the other nine participating countries.

South Africa

Last year, South Africa became the first senior Proteas team to reach a World Cup final, riding a tide of domestic enthusiasm.

After losing to Australia in the premier match in Cape Town, the Proteas have been hard at work getting ready to win even more.

At the start of the year, the team now captained by Laura Wolvaardt defeated the defending champions in Canberra.

Before they defeated Pakistan earlier this month, they had drawn series with Bangladesh, India, and New Zealand. They also lost that series to Sri Lanka.

West Indies

As the West Indies attempt to regain the form that propelled them to the championship in 2016, a legend has made a comeback.

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

With bat and ball, captain Hayley Matthews will once again be expected to contribute significantly as she teams up with fellow off-spinner and rising talent Karishma Rahmarack.

The ladies in maroon have been well-prepared for the conditions they will face in the UAE by their victories over Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Asia, and their thrilling victory against Australia demonstrated what this rising team is capable of.