Hosts England will kick off next year's Women's T20 World Cup at Edgbaston against Sri Lanka on June 12, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiling the full schedule less than a year before. Seven venues across England and Wales - Edgbaston (Birmingham), The Oval and Lord's (London), Headingley (Leeds), Old Trafford (Manchester), Bristol and the Utilita Bowl (Southampton) have been earmarked to host 33 matches, featuring 12 teams divided into two groups of six each with the final scheduled for July 5 at the Home of Cricket.
England have been drawn in Group 2 alongside the defending champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and two qualifying teams. India, on the other hand, will have their arch-rival Pakistan, the six-time champions Australia, South Africa, the last year's runners-up and two qualifying teams in Group 1. The four qualifying teams will be confirmed in early 2026.
"World Cups are always special, but this one already feels different – it has the potential to be truly game-changing," England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was quoted as saying in the ICC release.
"It’s going to be a huge moment for our sport and a brilliant opportunity to inspire young people and captivate fans across the country. Playing on home soil, for the biggest prize, against the best players in the world, it’s going to be unmissable. I can’t wait to be a part of it," she added.
The biggest Women's T20 World Cup yet
Two teams from Groups 1 and 2 each will go through to the semi-finals. The Oval will be the host to both the semis on June 30 and July 2, followed by the culmination at Lord's. This will be the 10th edition of the Women's T20 World Cup and the biggest yet featuring 12 sides.
Beth Barrett-Wild, the tournament director, said the tournament has the potential to leave a lasting impression and contribute towards change seeing some of the best cricketers on show across the UK in three weeks. “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket
"At iconic venues across the country, we’ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change. It’s our opportunity to give women’s cricket, and women’s sport, the stage it deserves.” Before that tournament, however, eight of those teams will be fighting it out for the coveted Cricket World Cup trophy later this year in India.
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