India and Pakistan are poised for headline-grabbing contests at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with the global cricket body revealing the full schedule for the marquee tournament on Tuesday. Following last month’s qualifiers in Nepal, the 12-team line-up for what promises to be a landmark summer of women’s cricket across England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July, has been confirmed.
Joining hosts England are Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Scotland, who all secured their places through an intense qualifying campaign, highlighting the growing depth and global reach of women’s cricket. European nations now account for a third of the tournament field, a historic first for the event.
Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands
Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland
There are multiple marquee fixtures, including a tantalising India-Pakistan group stage clash at Old Trafford on 14th June in a Group 1 clash. Australia and Bangladesh also feature in Group 2, with Bangladesh aiming to continue their unbeaten run from the qualifiers against some of the world’s strongest sides.
England are set to face Scotland at Headingley on 20 June for the first ever men’s or women’s World Cup meeting on English soil. Ireland open their campaign against Scotland at Old Trafford on 13 June before taking on England at the Hampshire Bowl on 16 June as part of a thrilling double-header alongside New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
The Netherlands will make their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup debut, with players like Sterre Kallis set to test themselves against elite opposition, including group-stage matches against India and Australia.
“The release of the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is an important milestone. This tournament reflects our continued investment in women’s cricket – from participation pathways to high-performance standards and global media reach – and we are confident it will be the next defining chapter in the accelerated growth of the sport," ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said in a statement.
