Ten teams will compete for the final four spots on offer at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 during what is sure to be a hard-fought Qualifier in Nepal.
Beginning on 18 January and concluding on 1 February, matches will be played across two venues in Kathmandu, the 14,000-capacity Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground and the Mulpani International Cricket Ground, which holds 5,000.
Format
The 10 teams have been split into two groups. Group A consists of Bangladesh, Ireland, Namibia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the USA, while Group B is made up of hosts Nepal, the Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand and Zimbabwe.
Group matches will take place on alternate days between 18-26 January.
The top three from each group progress to the Super Six stage, which kicks off on 28 January. From there, the top four will book their place at the main event in England and Wales.
Four of the competing nations – Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and Thailand – have appeared at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before, with the other six bidding to make their competition debuts in June.
Players to watch
This week’s warm-up matches have included several notable individual displays as players get used to conditions in Nepal.
PNG’s Konio Oala smashed seven sixes in a 52-ball 71 in her side’s 11-run win over Zimbabwe, with Hane Tau taking four for 19 with the ball.
Ireland batter Orla Prendergast has made back-to-back half-centuries against Nepal and Zimbabwe, retiring out on both occasions, while her compatriot Gaby Lewis smashed 77 off 38 in the first of those games.
Heather Siegers shone for Netherlands in their 86-run win over Namibia, scoring 86 from 39 balls at the top of the order before taking three for 24 in reply.
Namibia’s Yasmeen Khan will begin the competition in good touch, too, having scored 51 and 54 in her country’s two warm-up games.
Bangladesh’s squad includes captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sharmin Akhter, both of whom were named in the Team of the Tournament at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier.
Also part of that line-up were Scotland duo Kathryn Bryce, who finished as the leading run-scorer on that occasion, and her teammate Katherine Fraser, who will hope to lead their nation through.
The competition will also provide a platform for the next generation to showcase their talents. Chetna Pagydyala, a 17-year-old from California, is set to open for the USA and made an unbeaten 56 against Nepal while Beloved Biza, who only turned 17 earlier in January, has been opening for Zimbabwe in the warm-up games.
Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, 18, is part of the Thailand squad having made her T20I debut aged just 15 at the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup.
Take Away
Sport Trivia: Who was the first SA cricketer to take a hat trick in Test cricket? Answer: Geoff Griffin in the second test match against England at Lords in June 1960 — he dismissed Mike Smith, caught by the wicket-keeper, then bowled Peter Walker and Freddy Trueman. England went on to win the game by an innings and 73 runs. He never played another test match after that, due to his continually being called no-ball for alleged throwing.
Steel Cut Toe
South Africa has made quite a record in the world of cricket. However, one record they have maintained for years is bringing the fastest bowlers in international cricket tournaments. When we talk about the fastest bowlers from South Africa, we cannot skip mentioning Allan Donald, popularly called the ‘White Lightning’ for his unbelievable bowling speed. Additionally, cricket is one of the most played games in South Africa. That clearly shows that the country hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003.