The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the launch of the 2025 Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, a new T20I tournament aimed at accelerating the growth of women’s cricket among Associate Member nations. The event will be held in Thailand from November 18 to December 1, 2025, featuring eight teams in what is being billed as a major step toward closing the gap between emerging and established women’s sides.
The competition will include Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates—five Associate teams currently holding ODI status—alongside Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda, the three highest-ranked Associate women’s T20I teams as of mid-2025. The format will follow a single-group round-robin stage, with each team playing every other once before the top four advance to the semifinals and final.
This marks the first edition of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which the ICC plans to institutionalize as an annual event. The aim is clear: to provide meaningful, structured competition to women’s teams outside the Full Member circuit, helping players gain high-pressure experience and build visibility in the global calendar. The initiative also feeds directly into the ICC’s long-term development strategy, aligning with the expanded global event cycle set for 2028–2031, where Associate participation is expected to increase significantly.
Thailand’s selection as host underscores the nation’s rising profile in women’s cricket. Its infrastructure and success story—transitioning from development status to being one of Asia’s most competitive Associate teams—make it an ideal venue. The tournament will use multiple venues across Bangkok and Chonburi, giving players experience in sub-tropical Asian conditions similar to those seen in major ICC tournaments.
Crucially, this tournament will serve as an opportunity platform for players who otherwise face limited exposure. Many Associate teams play only sporadic bilateral series, and the lack of regular high-quality opposition often stunts progress. The Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy introduces consistent fixtures and scouting opportunities, ensuring national boards, franchises, and selectors can identify standout talents for future leagues and qualifiers.
Teams like the Netherlands and Scotland have already expressed enthusiasm, highlighting the competition’s timing just months before the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers. For them, it’s not just preparation—it’s a rare chance to measure themselves against peers in an ICC-sanctioned, televised setting.
The event also symbolizes a broader shift in women’s cricket economics and governance. With more nations investing in semi-professional contracts for women, this tournament acts as both incentive and validation—proof that infrastructure investment yields international opportunity. The ICC’s continued funding commitment to the Women’s Pathway Program ensures that such tournaments will no longer be one-off showcases but part of a sustainable global circuit.
While the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2025 might not carry the glamour of a World Cup, its importance cannot be overstated. For many of the participating nations, this is the biggest stage they’ve ever had. And for global cricket, it represents a decisive move toward inclusivity, depth, and genuine competitiveness. As the first ball is bowled in Thailand this November, women’s Associate cricket begins a new chapter—one defined not by potential, but by performance and progress.
12BET Shortlisted for Sportsbook Operator of the Year at SBC Awards 2025