Exciting Changes Unveiled in Women’s Cricket’s Future Tours Programme
Amidst the growing popularity of women’s cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled significant updates to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2025-29 cycle. These changes aim to further elevate the sport and provide a more structured framework for international competitions.
The most notable development is the expansion of the ICC Women’s Championship to include 11 teams, with the addition of Zimbabwe. This means that all ICC Full Members, except Afghanistan, will now be part of the prestigious championship. Each country will play four teams at home and four away over a three-year cycle, ensuring a more robust and competitive tournament.
Another key announcement is the introduction of a T20 Champions Trophy, set to be held in Sri Lanka in 2027. This new tournament will feature six teams and 16 matches, further enhancing the women’s cricket calendar, which now boasts three global events in a 12-month period, including the LA Olympics in 2028 and the T20 World Cup.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) will also see a dedicated window in the FTP, scheduled to be played in January-February from 2026 onwards. This move has resulted in Cricket Australia pushing back its women’s marquee summer fixtures to February-March, avoiding a clash with the lucrative franchise league.
Notably, the ODI World Cup will be expanded to 10 teams playing 48 matches from 2029, while the T20 World Cup will feature 12 teams and 33 matches starting from 2026.
Another significant development is the return of West Indies Women to Test cricket after a hiatus of over 20 years. They will host Australia for a Test match in March 2026 and play two more Tests against England and South Africa in the upcoming cycle.
These changes underscore the ICC’s commitment to the growth and professionalization of women’s cricket, ensuring a more diverse and competitive landscape for the sport’s future.
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