The International Cricket Council(ICC), on Monday (March 8), announced the expansion of Women’s World Cup post the 2023 event, with more teams participating in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups from 2026 onwards.
ICC Expands Women’s World Cup
The decision seeks to encourage more teams to compete on the global stage and provide member nations with an incentive to grow the game domestically.
The World Cup will have 10 teams playing 48 matches from 2029 (up from eight teams, and 31 matches, till 2025), the T20 World Cup will be expanded to 12 teams playing a total of 33 matches from 2026 (up from 10 teams, and 23 matches, till 2024). The Women’s T20 Champions Cup is set to take place in 2027 and 2031, with six teams playing 16 matches.
These tournaments are part of 20 global tournaments planned for both men’s and women’s cricket combined in the 2023-31 cycle. Bids for hosting the events will soon be open to the ICC’s member countries.
According to ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney, the revised formats would also mean more teams will be able to compete in and gain vital exposure in the qualification tournaments – the Women’s Championship, World Cup Qualifier and the T20 Qualifier.
“This decision to expand our women’s events … allows us to give more member countries greater opportunities to compete on a global stage,” Sawhney said. “This means that more teams will also get the opportunity to compete in the qualification pathways for the respective ICC events over the coming years. I am sure these initiatives will go a long way in helping us achieve our strategic goal of continuing to build strength and depth in the women’s game.
“We have a clear focus and commitment to an ambitious long-term growth plan for the women’s game. We have been building momentum around the women’s game for the last four years investing in global broadcast coverage and marketing to drive fan engagement.”
In 2000, the number of competing teams at the Women’s World Cup was fixed at eight, while the T20 World Cup expanded from eight to 10 teams in 2014.
Also read: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Winners List Since 1973
