I like to break down the international women’s cricket season into 4-year cycles because it’s easier to remember this way, so I thought I would bring you up to speed on this current cycle and what it all leads up to.

Women’s world cup structure

The ICC women’s section is divided into world cups and tournaments. The women’s ODI world cup happens every 4 years (last edition 2025, next 2029), the t20 world cup happens every 2 years (last edition 2024, next 2026). So, in every 4-year ODI there’s two t20 world cups and in between all of this are t20 leagues across the world so there’s a lot of cricket that goes on in the women’s circuit.

T20 world cup qualification

With the upcoming 2026 women’s t20 world cup, this is a great time to explain how qualification occurs and who to expect in England and Wales in June and July. 12 teams will participate, 2 more than the 2024 edition meaning more games and competition.

• Global qualifiers

4 spots on the world cup scene are decided through global qualifiers. This year 10 teams competed in round robin group stage and super 6 competition where the 4 semi finalists would qualify for this edition. After a thrilling tournament Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands qualified.

• Automatic qualification

The top 6 teams from the 2024 edition get automatic qualification to this edition. The 6 spots went to hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, finalists South Africa, and India, Australia and west indies. The remaining 2 automatic qualification spots went to the top 2 ranked teams who did not make top 6 of the 2024 edition: Pakistan and Sri Lanka

T20 world cup 2026 England and Wales

The 2026 world cup will be held in England and Wales where New Zealand will look to defend their title and England will look to bring it home. The 10th edition of the tournament will run from the 12th of June and end on the 5th of July with the final at lords

• The 12 teams: hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, finalists South Africa. India, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan make the list. Qualifiers Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and debutants Netherlands
• Venues: 7 venues across England and Wales: Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Hampshire bowl, Headingly, Bristol County, lords cricket ground, the oval
• Groups: 1 Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands.

  2 West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland.

Proteas women t20 side – feb 2026

Next ODI world cup

The 2025 edition saw a new name on the trophy with India winning it all, at home. The preparation now move to the 2029 world cup. With the 2 t20 world cups upcoming before that (2026:2028) the teams are competing in the ICC women’s championship which is played over the 4 years between world cups to establish qualifications. The cycle runs from 2026-2029.

The championship is an ODI competition where teams compete in 8 three-match series against any of the 11 teams competing. 4 series are played at home with 4 away. The following team form part of the 4th edition: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and debutants Zimbabwe.

From this the host nation plus 5 teams will automatically qualify through ranking with the last 2 spots up for grabs through a qualifier.

South Africa’s women’s championship path to 2029

The proteas have started their campaign with a 2-1 series win against Pakistan at home. They are rumoured to face Australia, India and West Indies at home with their away matches against Bangladesh, England, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. They will face New Zealand next in Aotearoa between March and April.

Stay tuned as we’ll go with them in this journey.