Is Fiji Ready to Host the Historic ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East-Asia Pacific Qualifier?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Fiji is hosting a historic women's cricket tournament.
- The event features teams from eight nations in the East-Asia Pacific.
- It marks the Philippines' women's team's debut at an ICC tournament.
- Matches will be streamed live on ICC.tv.
- The final on September 15 will determine who qualifies for the Global Qualifier.
Suva, Sep 8 (NationPress) The East-Asia Pacific region is on the brink of a significant milestone in women's cricket as Fiji gears up to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 East-Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier, set to commence on Tuesday at Albert Park.
In addition to Fiji, teams from Cook Islands, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, and Vanuatu will participate in the largest women's cricket tournament ever held in the region, vying for a coveted spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Nepal.
The tournament signifies a landmark for the Philippines, as their women's team will debut at an ICC event. The opening matches will feature Fiji against Cook Islands and Japan competing against Papua New Guinea, taking place across two venues at Albert Park.
The final is set for September 15, where one team will secure a place in the global qualifying event scheduled for January 2026. Vanuatu made headlines in 2024 when they became the last East-Asia Pacific team to reach a Global Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, achieving a historic victory over Zimbabwe, showcasing the increasing competitiveness of the region.
Vanuatu captain Rachel Andrew expressed her team's ambition to replicate their past success from the previous ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East-Asia Pacific Qualifier in 2023. She stated, "The Vanuatu team is filled with enthusiasm as we approach the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier. Our squad combines seasoned players with a profound understanding of victory and emerging young talent. We aim to build on our previous momentum and are eager to qualify for the Global Qualifier once more," she conveyed in an ICC statement on Monday.
All matches will be streamed live on ICC.tv, with live scores and results available on the ICC website.
Group A: Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa
Group B: Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu