The ICC has formally launched the inaugural Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, a landmark T20 tournament designed to accelerate the development of women’s cricket across associate member nations. Set to take place in Bangkok from 20 to 30 November 2025, the competition brings together eight teams from multiple continents in what the ICC describes as a major structural step toward expanding the global women’s game.
The participating sides include Thailand, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, the UAE, Scotland, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda. All matches will be held across two venues in Bangkok, creating a centralized, competitive environment meant to give emerging players consistent exposure to high-level cricket. The tournament will use a full round-robin format, ensuring every team faces the others once before the top-placed side is crowned champion on the final day.
This event sits at the heart of a new three-tier pathway for women’s cricket within the ICC’s long-term development framework. By increasing the number of meaningful fixtures available to associate nations, the Trophy is intended to bridge the competitive gap between grassroots programs and full international cricket. Officials have emphasized that the initiative is about far more than one tournament; it represents a deliberate shift in how the women’s game is structured and supported globally.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta has positioned the tournament as a “step-change” for the sport, highlighting its potential to reshape opportunities for elite athletes outside the traditional cricketing powerhouses. According to the ICC’s development vision, expanding access to competitive cricket for emerging nations is essential to sustaining the rapid growth of the women’s game seen in recent years. By hosting a high-visibility event, the ICC expects national boards to receive renewed motivation to invest in coaching, pathways, and infrastructure at home.
Momentum for such initiatives has been building, especially after the recent Women’s Cricket World Cup drew massive global viewership and signaled a commercial and cultural turning point. The new Trophy aims to convert that momentum into tangible competitive opportunities for nations that previously had limited international exposure.
In addition to this event, the ICC has confirmed plans to introduce a second competition, the Women’s Challenge Trophy, beginning in 2026. This additional tournament will feature teams not included in the Emerging Nations Trophy, widening the pathway and giving more associate countries the chance to build consistent international schedules.
As the inaugural edition approaches, the significance of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy extends beyond immediate results. It marks a strategic attempt to democratize access to top-level cricket, give emerging players meaningful platforms, and strengthen the global competitive landscape. For the teams involved, it is a rare, career-shaping opportunity. For the sport, it is a message: the future of women’s cricket is broad, ambitious, and no longer confined to a handful of traditional cricketing nations.
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