2030 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup set to be expanded to 16 teams

Reaffirming its commitment to the growth of women's cricket in the latest board meeting, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, July 22, approved the expansion of the 2030 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to 16 teams. While this year's tournament will feature 10 teams, the 2026 edition will be witnessing the participation of 12 nations.

Additionally, the board confirmed that the cut-off date for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup qualification will be October 31, 2024. England, who hosted the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup in 2009, which comprised eight teams, will once again be hosting the event in 2026.

Australia will be looking to extend their ICC Women's T20 World Cup domination

With a record six titles out of the eight editions that have been played so far, the Australians have been the most successful in the 15-year history of the tournament. While hosts England won in 2009, the West Indies lifted their maiden crown in India in 2016.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be hosting this year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup which is all set to kick off on October 3. Two venues, the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka and the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, will be hosting all 23 matches of the upcoming edition, with Mirpur slated to host the all-important final on Sunday, October 20.

Australia defeated hosts South Africa by 19 runs in the final of the previous edition at the New Lands, Cape Town. Having won the previous three editions of the Women's T20 World Cup in 2023, 2020 and 2018, the defending champions will be keen to extend their domination by clinching the title in 2024.

They are placed alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in Group A. Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B where they will be facing England, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies.