Cricket News
Women's T20 World Cup Full Schedule 2026: Date, Time, Fixtures, Teams, Venue details announced
The full schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has been confirmed following the conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal last month – officially completing the 12‑team line‑up for what promises to be a landmark summer of women’s cricket.
Joining tournament hosts England are Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland, who each secured their place after an intense qualification campaign that showcased the strength and depth of the women’s global game. It also marks a historic moment for the European nations, as they account for a third of the competing teams in this year’s tournament.
A tantalising home nations match-up now awaits in the group stages, with England set to take on Scotland at Headingley on 20 June, marking the first time the two countries will meet at either a women’s or men’s World Cup staged on English soil. The box-office fixture is expected to draw huge crowds, with Scottish stars including Kathryn and Sarah Bryce and Abtaha Maqsood taking on the tournament hosts.
Ireland kick off their World Cup campaign with an exciting all-Celtic clash at Old Trafford, as they face Scotland on 13 June. A trip to the south coast follows as they take on England at the Hampshire Bowl on 16 June as part of a thrilling double-header featuring current World Cup holders, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka earlier on the same day.
Having gone unbeaten in the qualifiers, Bangladesh will be looking to make their mark in Group 2 having been a regular presence at ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in recent years. Tough tests await them, including Australia at Headingley on 17 June, and an in-form India on 25 June at Old Trafford.
The Netherlands make their maiden appearance at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with a squad featuring exciting talent such as Yorkshire’s Sterre Kallis, who will test her skills on the global stage against world-class opposition, including group stage match ups with India at Headingley on 17 June and Australia on 20 June at the Hampshire Bowl.
The qualifying quartet now join England, Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies on the global stage from 12 June until 5 July across England and Wales.
ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta said:
“The release of the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is an important milestone in the run-up to the global, premier sporting event. This event is in continuation of the ICC’s sustained investment in women’s Cricket – across expanded participation and high-performance pathways, event and production standards, tournament prize money, widened media distribution and commercial partnerships – towards the goal of commanding higher levels of attention, affiliation and stature with fans worldwide.
“The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India served as a force multiplier for the sport – breaking records, capturing imaginations and inspiring communities – and our ambition is to carry the momentum into the event in June-July. The tournament also follows closely on the heels of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, reinforcing the ICC’s commitment to creating year-round global moments for the world’s second most popular sport.
“Venues across England and Wales will serve as a wonderful stage for high-quality competitive Cricket, unforgettable memories and unifying cultural experiences that define global events.
“We are confident that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be the next defining chapter in the accelerated growth of women’s cricket worldwide.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said:
“Huge congratulations to Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands for earning their World Cup spots through a hard-fought and competitive qualifying event. We’re delighted to now confirm our full schedule and set the stage for a tournament that will not only showcase the very best of the women’s game but also ignite some home nation rivalry when England take on Scotland at Headingley on 20 June.
“This Women’s T20 World Cup will bring world-class athletes, elite performances and unforgettable moments to fans across England and Wales. With high-quality cricket at its core, the tournament promises to be an unmissable sporting spectacle that captures hearts and minds, and takes women’s cricket firmly into the mainstream.”
Scotland’s captain, Kathryn Bryce, added:
“It’s going to be absolutely incredible playing at a World Cup in England and Wales. It’s probably the closest we will get to playing at home, so it’s going to be super exciting to be so close to home and give people from Scotland the chance to travel and watch and support the national team on this sort of stage.
“For the young boys and girls in Scotland who’ve been watching cricket or picked it up during the last few years, for it to now be possible for them to come and see players from their country playing in a World Cup nearby is pretty special.
“The way this World Cup has been marketed so far is great, and there’s going to be a massive push on the outreach and engagement which I think is fantastic for women’s cricket across the country, so it’s really exciting to look ahead and think about the history that is going to be made this summer.”
Ireland captain, Gaby Lewis, said:
“The last few months have been huge for us, with everything building towards securing our place at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales this year. To be back on the world stage, and so close to home, really is a dream come true. This will be a landmark moment for women’s cricket in Ireland.”
“We can’t wait to see friends, family, and supporters making the trip over. We want to make them proud – and hopefully inspire young players back home to believe that they can reach a World Cup themselves one day.”
Bangladesh captain, Nigar Sultana Joty, said:
“We’re really happy to have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. I’m incredibly proud of the way the team performed, dominating in every game.
“We have never played in England before so we’re excited but know it’s going to be a big challenge. We can’t wait for the big event and we’re going prepare ourselves with everything we have, play our best cricket and win games for our country.”
Netherlands captain, Babbette De Leede commented:
“Qualifying for our first‑ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup fills us with an incredible sense of pride and excitement. It feels extra special because, in many ways, it’s almost a ‘home’ World Cup for us. We’re hoping to see a sea of orange in the stands with our families, friends, fans and everyone who has supported Dutch women’s cricket over the years.
“Stepping onto that stage for the very first time will be a milestone for the women’s cricket in the Netherlands, and we hope it inspires young Dutch players to dream big and believe that they, too, can one day represent a successful national team.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands
Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland
Full ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
Friday June 12: England v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston 18:30 BST
Saturday June 13: Scotland v Ireland, Old Trafford Cricket Ground 10:30 BST
Saturday June 13: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford Cricket Ground 14:30 BST
Saturday June 13: West Indies v New Zealand, Hampshire Bowl 18:30 BST
Sunday June 14: Bangladesh v Netherlands, Edgbaston 10:30 BST
Sunday June 14: India v Pakistan, Edgbaston 14:30 BST
Tuesday June 16: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Hampshire Bowl 14:30 BST
Tuesday June 16: England v Ireland, Hampshire Bowl 18:30 BST
Wednesday June 17: Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley 10:30 BST
Wednesday June 17: India v Netherlands, Headingley 14:30 BST
Wednesday June 17: South Africa v Pakistan, Edgbaston 18:30 BST
Thursday June 18: West Indies v Scotland, Headingley 18:30 BST
Friday June 19: New Zealand v Ireland, Hampshire Bowl 18:30 BST
Saturday June 20: Australia v Netherlands, Hampshire Bowl 10:30 BST
Saturday June 20: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Hampshire Bowl 14:30 BST
Saturday June 20: England v Scotland, Headingley 18:30 BST
Sunday June 21: West Indies v Sri Lanka, Bristol County Ground 10:30 BST
Sunday June 21: South Africa v India, Old Trafford Cricket Ground 14:30 BST
Tuesday June 23: New Zealand v Scotland, Bristol County Ground 10:30 BST
Tuesday June 23: Sri Lanka v Ireland, Bristol County Ground 14:30 BST
Tuesday June 23: Australia v Pakistan, Headingley 18:30 BST
Wednesday June 24: England v West Indies, Lord’s Cricket Ground 18:30 BST
Thursday June 25: India v Bangladesh, Old Trafford Cricket Ground 14:30 BST
Thursday June 25: South Africa v Netherlands, Bristol County Ground 18:30 BST
Friday June 26: Sri Lanka v Scotland, Old Trafford Cricket Ground 18:30 BST
Saturday June 27: Pakistan v Netherlands, Bristol County Ground 10:30 BST
Saturday June 27: West Indies v Ireland, Bristol County Ground 14:30 BST
Saturday June 27: England v New Zealand, The Oval 18:30 BST
Sunday June 28: South Africa v Bangladesh, Lord’s Cricket Ground 10:30 BST
Sunday June 28: Australia v India, Lord’s Cricket Ground 14:30 BST
Tuesday June 30: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 1), The Oval 14:30 BST
Thursday July 2: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 2), The Oval 18:30 BST
Sunday July 5: TBC v TBC (The Final), Lord’s Cricket Ground 14:30 BST
Cricket News
'Virat Kohli almost doesn't want the life he lives in India' – Ex-RCBian Liam Livingstone reflects on Indian stalwart's off-field persona
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Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Liam Livingstone opined that Virat Kohli might be a fierce competitor on the field and someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, but outside of it, he is someone who wants to stay away from all the limelight.
Livingstone, who played IPL 2026 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, said that Kohli likes to spend time with his family and wants to keep his personal life away from the public eye.
“He was amazing. I’d always played against Virat, and he’s always laughing. If you want to have a go at someone, he’ll have a go back at you. But on the field, he’s ultra-competitive. As soon as he steps over that line, he’s a different person. But, on the field, he is a really nice, chill guy, and loves spending time with his family. Very chilled out guy,” Livingstone said while speaking on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.
“Almost like he doesn’t want that life, he lives in India. He doesn’t really want the eye on him all the time. He is a genuinely nice guy,” he added.
Livingstone shared the RCB dressing room with Kohli during IPL 2025. However, after a disappointing season, he was released by the franchise, and Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him up.
“When he gets out onto the pitch, he is the most competitive player I have seen,” Livingstone said while reiterating Kohli’s fierce persona when he is playing.
Livingstone also revealed that RCB’s Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and head coach Andy Flower were the ones who asked Kohli to be aggressive inside the power play. In IPL 2026, the former India captain finished with a staggering strike rate of 165.85, his best in a particular season of the cash-rich league.
“Mo [Bobat] and Andy [Flower] went in and changed the way he played. They were brave enough to do that,” Livingstone revealed.
“They asked him to be a bit more aggressive, hit more sixes, and keep going with that aggression in the powerplay. You see the way he plays now in the powerplay, and he’s way more aggressive than he used to be. Even against spin, he’s playing more shots than he ever did,” Livingstone added.
Cricket News
IND vs AFG 2026: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi provides update on Rashid Khan's future in Test cricket
Afghanistan are set to face India in a one-off Test match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, starting on Saturday, June 6. Hashmatullah Shahidi is going to lead the Blue Tigers against a strong Indian side.
Shahidi was asked about talismanic leg-spinner Rashid Khan’s future in Test cricket. While Rashid hasn’t retired from the longest format yet, he has limited himself to playing only one Test match a year. Shahidi said that the Gujarat Titans’ vice-captain and the selectors will decide on Rashid’s availability in red-ball cricket.
“Rashid has done well in the Tests (45 wickets in 6 Tests) that he has played. Personally, I haven’t spoken to Rashid about whether he will play Tests again or not. He had discussions with the selectors and I don’t want to talk about that,” Shahidi was quoted as saying at the press conference on Thursday.
Shahidi emphasised the need for Afghanistan to play more Test matches against the top teams so that they can get better in the format. He admitted that playing, on average, only two Tests a year has been a significant impediment for Afghan cricket since they made their debut in 2018.
“We played India in 2018. We have more experience now, but we need to play more to build our Test team. When it comes to domestic cricket, we play six to seven red-ball games, but in Tests we get only one or two games a year,” Shahidi said.
However, Shahidi disagreed when asked whether the young talents in Afghanistan are solely focused on playing only franchise tournaments.
“Everyone knows that our guys do very well in franchise leagues and if you see, our white-ball performances have been good. But even then, we have a lot of talent in Afghanistan who are waiting for their chance,” said Shahidi.
While the conditions are going to be hot and humid during the solitary Test match, the left-handed batter asserted that his team has what it takes to deal with such conditions.
“We had a camp in Jalalabad in Afghanistan and also played a tournament. The temperature was 35 degrees there, so we are well equipped to handle the heat,” he said.
Cricket News
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a special talent, should not change anything: Virat Kohli's childhood coach
Rajkumar Sharma, who was Virat Kohli’s coach during his childhood days, called Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a special cricketer and explained what makes him stand out from other players of his age.
Sooryavanshi took the cricket fraternity by storm during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as he finished with a whopping 776 runs in 16 innings at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.31. He won the Orange Cap and also became the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“Well, he is an exceptional talent undoubtedly. I mean, the way he has played in this IPL is remarkable. The way he has hit all the first-class, international and world-class bowlers, that is commendable and I must say that he is a special talent. I really find Vaibhav very good. The type of fearless cricket he plays and the way he has hit world-class bowlers is commendable. The way he has hit those sixes is just unbelievable, for T20 cricket, he is just brilliant,” Sharma was quoted as saying by India Today.
Sharma said that Sooryavanshi shouldn’t change his game while playing T20 cricket as everything is working well for him. However, he refused to comment on the 15-year-old’s future in Test cricket as he hasn’t seen much of him till now.
“Since he is playing T20, I would say don’t change anything. Just go and play like this, the way you are playing. You are playing tremendous cricket and the way you are hitting, keep on hitting the ball and entertaining the people. When it comes to playing Test cricket, I haven’t seen enough of him to judge how mature he is, how he can change his game, how he can leave the ball outside the off stump or how he can play swing bowling. But for now, I want him to continue the way he is playing,” Sharma stated.
Sharma, however, urged caution when it came to comparisons with Kohli, who he has seen from close quarters since the legendary batter’s childhood days.
“I don’t believe in comparing people. What Virat has done in the last 18 years, I mean it’s a very long period that he has been so consistent. But looking at Vaibhav, he looks very good, a very talented guy and he has got good temperament also, which he showed in the last game. So, I mean he is a brilliant talent undoubtedly, but we have just seen him playing in this format only. We are yet to see him play in bigger formats, maybe Test cricket or One-Day cricket,” Sharma explained.
“Virat is a different player (from Sooryavanshi). He is a legend now. He is a great player, which he has proved by winning so many matches. No Indian has won as many matches for India as Virat has, and that is why he is loved so much. Here we see a rising star (Sooryavanshi) and we really love to see him grow,” he added.
Sharma also mentioned that Sooryavanshi’s fitness should not be viewed as a concern and he will only get better as his career progresses.
“No, fitness will come. He is still a baby and he has got superpower. That is the brilliant thing about him,” Sharma said.
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