2026 Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier

The 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier was the seventh edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, hosted by Cricket Association of Nepal from 18 January 1 February 2026. It served as the final stage of the qualification process for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Ten teams competed in 29 matches across two venues in Nepal.

Sri Lanka were the defending champions; whom had already directly qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup. No dedicated final match was held in the tournament; instead placements were decided by the final points table standings. Bangladesh finished atop the final points table to win their 4th Global Qualifier title. Top 4 teams in the tournament: Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Background

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier is a biennial international cricket competition in Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) format, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It serves as the final stage of the qualification process for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka were the defending champions having won the 2024 Global Qualifier; whom had already directly qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Host selection In July 2022, as part of the 2024–2027 ICC women's hosts cycle, the ICC announced that the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup would be played in England. In August 2025, the ICC announced that the 2026 Global Qualifier would be played in Nepal with the goal of boosting the development of the sport in the country. On 6 January 2026, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced that a preparation series would be held ahead of the tournament from 7 to 11 January. On 7 January, the ICC announced the tournament schedule with the mathces taking place from 18 January to 1 February.

Format The tournament remained as a 10-team competition after the 2024 tournament's expansion however, a new Super 6 stage was introduced to replace the knockout stage. The 10 participating teams were divided into two groups of five each. In the group stage, each team played each of the other teams in the group once in a round-robin format for 20 matches, and the top three teams in each group advanced to the Super 6 stage.

Results of the matches against other advanced teams in the respective group were carried over to the Super 6 stage, thus each team played only against the three teams advanced from the other group. No knockout stage or a dedicated final match was played and instead placements were decided by the final points table standings. As the T20 World Cup expanded 12 teams from 2026 onwards, the top four teams from the Global Qualifier were given qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Qualification

The bottom two teams from the 2024 T20 World Cup: Bangladesh and Scotland received direct qualification, while the remaining 8 spots were filled by teams advancing from the regional qualifiers: Namibia and Zimbabwe from Africa, the United States from Americas, Nepal and Thailand from Asia, Papua New Guinea from East Asia-Pacific and Ireland and the Netherlands from Europe.

+ Teams qualified for the tournament Method of qualification Date Venue No. of teams Teams 2024 Women's T20 World Cup 3 – 20 October 2024 United Arab Emirates 2 Americas Qualifier 10 – 17 March 2025 Argentina 1 Asia Qualifier 9 – 20 May 2025 Thailand 2 Europe Qualifier 20 – 27 August 2025 Netherlands 2 Africa Qualifier 31 August – 6 September 2025 Namibia 2 EAP Qualifier 9 – 15 September 2025 Fiji 1 Total 12

Venues The tournament was played across 2 venues in Nepal: 13 matches at Mulpani International Cricket Ground in Kageshwari-Manohara and 16 matches at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Venues in Nepal Kageshwari-Manohara Kirtipur Mulpani International Cricket Ground Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 13,000 Matches: 13 Matches: 16

Squads Following squads were announced for the tournament: Bangladesh: Dilara Akter (wk), Marufa Akter, Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Shorna Akter, Juairiya Ferdous (wk), Fargana Haque, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Sanjida Akter Meghla, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana (c, wk), Fariha Trisna Ireland: Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly (wk), Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter (wk), Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis (c), Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell Namibia: Naomi Benjamin, Jurriene Diergaardt, Merczerly Gorases, Kayleen Green, Victoria Hamunyela, Eveleen Kejarukua, Yasmeen Khan (wk), Bianca Manuel, Mekelaye Mwatile, Wilka Mwatile, Sylvia Shihepo, Edelle Van Zyl, Leigh-Marie Visser, Saima Tuhadeleni, Sune Wittmann (c) Nepal Rajmati Airee, Indu Barma (c), Suman Bista, Rachana Chaudhary, Rubina Chhetri, Kabita Joshi, Samjhana Khadka, Kabita Kunwar, Sita Rana Magar, Puja Mahato, Bindu Rawal, Riya Sharma, Kajal Shrestha (wk), Roma Thapa, Manisha Upadhaya Netherlands: Merel Dekeling, Caroline de Lange, Babette de Leede (c, wk), Sterre Kalis, Sanya Khurana, Hannah Landheer, Lara Leemhuis, Phebe Molkenboer, Frederique Overdijk, Robine Rijke, Heather Siegers (wk), Silver Siegers, Myrthe van den Raad, Isabel van der Woning, Iris Zwilling Papua New Guinea: Melanie Ani, Hollan Doriga, Kevau Frank, Sibona Jimmy, Dika Lohia, Konio Oala, Miria Raio, Pauke Siaka, Brenda Tau (c, wk), Hane Tau, Henao Thomas, Geua Tom, Mairi Tom, Isabel Toua, Naoani Vare Scotland" Chloe Abel, Olivia Bell, Kathryn Bryce (c), Sarah Bryce (wk), Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Ailsa Lister (wk), Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Mollie Parker, Hannah Rainey, Niamh Robertson-Jack, Rachel Slater, Pippa Sproul Thailand: Nattaya Boochatham, Nannaphat Chaihan, Naruemol Chaiwai (c), Natthakan Chantham, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Rosenanee Kanoh, Suwanan Khiaoto (wk), Nannapat Koncharoenkai (wk), Suleeporn Laomi, Phannita Maya, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Thipatcha Putthawong, Chanida Sutthiruang, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi United States: Gargi Bhogle, Taranum Chopra, Aditiba Chudasama (c), Ella Claridge (wk), Disha Dhingra, Pooja Ganesh (wk), Saanvi Immadi, Sainavi Kambalapalli, Geetika Kodali, Maahi Madhavan, Tara Norris, Chetna Pagydyala, Lekha Shetty, Ritu Singh, Isani Vaghela Zimbabwe: Beloved Biza, Christabel Chatonzwa, Chiedza Dhururu (wk), Nyasha Gwanzura, Lindokuhle Mabhero, Audrey Mazvishaya, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (c), Modester Mupachikwa, Christine Mutasa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Josephine Nkomo, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loreen Tshuma, Adel Zimunu

Nepal women's preparation series The CAN organised a preparation series of three women's Twenty20 cricket matches from 7 to 11 January 2026 at the Mulpani Cricket Ground. Nepal was scheduled to play against the United States, Scotland and Zimbabwe respectively, however due to Zimbabwe's unavailability; Nepal played against the United States twice.

Warm-up matches A total of 10 official warm-up fixtures were played with each team playing two matches: one on 14 January and another on 16 January 2026.

Group stage The group stage featured a total of 20 matches played from 18 to 26 January 2026 across the two venues. The top three teams from each group: Bangladesh, Ireland and the United States from group A and the Netherlands, Scotland and Thailand from group B advanced to the Super 6 stage.

Group A Group B

Group A

Group B

Super 6 stage The Super 6 stage featured 9 matches played from 28 January to 1 February 2026 across the two venues. The top four teams from the stage: Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Qualification Super 6 stage (Top 3 teams from each group)

Points table

Fixtures

Statistics

Gaby Lewis of Ireland scored the most runs in the 2026 tournament (276 runs from 7 innings), which was also the most in a single tournament. Tara Norris of the United States took the most wickets in the 2026 tournament (15 wickets from 6 innings), which was also the most in a single tournament.

+ Most runs Runs Player Team 276 Gaby Lewis 262 Sobhana Mostary 205 Naruemol Chaiwai 195 Sharmin Akhter 184 Katherine Fraser + Most wickets Wickets Player Team 15 Tara Norris 13 Arlene Kelly Thipatcha Putthawong 12 Kathryn Bryce 11 Jane Maguire

2026 Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier

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