ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy expands to 10 teams for Ajman 2026 edition
Synopsis
The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy doubles in scale for its Ajman 2026 edition: five Full Members — Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe — join five Associates in a 10-team event that is rapidly becoming the most important development pathway in women's cricket outside the main World Cup cycle.
Key Takeaways
The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy expands to 10 teams for its second edition in Ajman, UAE , from 12 to 25 November 2026 .
Five Full Members — Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe — join five Associate Members for the first time.
Group A : Ireland, PNG, Scotland, Sri Lanka, UAE; Group B : Bangladesh, Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand, Zimbabwe.
Format: group stage → Super Six → final, approved by the ICC Women's Cricket Committee and ICC Chief Executives' Committee .
Thailand are the defending champions, having won the inaugural 2025 edition on home soil on net run rate.
Performances will count toward ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings , offering a tangible competitive incentive for all squads.
The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy will feature 10 teams for the first time when its second edition kicks off in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, from 12 to 25 November 2026. Five Full Members — Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe — join five Associate Members in an expanded competition designed to deepen the international women's cricket pathway.
Format and Venues
Matches will be staged across the Karwan Sports and Seven Districts grounds in Ajman. The 10 teams have been divided into two groups of five, with the group phase feeding into a Super Six round and a final. The format was approved on the recommendation of the ICC Women's Cricket Committee and subsequently confirmed by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee.
Group A comprises Ireland, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. Group B features Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.
What the ICC Said
ICC General Manager – Events and Cricket Operations Gaurav Saxena welcomed the expanded lineup, saying it would deliver more meaningful competition for developing nations. 'The expansion of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy to 10 teams is an important step in providing more meaningful international competition for emerging teams and supporting the continued growth of women's cricket,' Saxena said. He added that bringing together five Full Members and five Associate Members would 'create valuable opportunities for players to test themselves against a wider range of opposition and gain experience in a high-performance environment.'
Building on the Inaugural Edition
The 2026 edition builds on the inaugural tournament held in 2025, when Thailand claimed the title on home soil. Thailand finished level on points with Scotland, the Netherlands, and the UAE, with net run rate ultimately separating the sides. Notably, the first edition also served as a launchpad for individual performances to climb the ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings, underlining the value of consistent international exposure for developing programmes.
Why This Expansion Matters
The inclusion of Full Members alongside Associates creates a sharper competitive gradient — players from emerging nations will now face established international opposition rather than peers at a similar developmental stage. This comes amid a broader ICC push to grow women's cricket participation and competitiveness ahead of the next Women's T20 World Cup cycle. With bilateral series access still limited for many Associate nations, tournaments of this kind remain among the few structured pathways to high-performance experience.
What to Watch
All eyes will be on Thailand as defending champions, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka represent the strongest Full Member entries on current ICC rankings. The Super Six phase is where group finishes will matter most, and individual ranking-point implications could shape squad selections heading into the 2027 ICC calendar.
Point of View
But it is structurally significant: for the first time, Full Members and Associates will share the same competitive table, creating genuine ranking and selection pressure on both sides. What the ICC has quietly built here is a second-tier women's tournament with teeth — and the rankings implications mean it is no longer just developmental theatre. The real test will be whether the format generates enough close contests to hold broadcaster and fan attention, or whether Full Members dominate so heavily that Associates gain exposure without genuine competition. If Thailand can defend against Bangladesh or Pakistan, the tournament's credibility jumps considerably.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026?
The second edition of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy takes place from 12 to 25 November 2026 in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Matches will be held at the Karwan Sports and Seven Districts grounds.
Which teams are participating in the 2026 edition?
Ten teams are participating: Group A consists of Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the UAE; Group B features Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand and Zimbabwe. This is the first edition to include five Full Members alongside five Associate Members.
Who won the inaugural ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy?
Thailand won the inaugural 2025 edition, which was held on home soil. Thailand finished level on points with Scotland, the Netherlands and the UAE, with net run rate determining the final standings.
What is the tournament format for 2026?
The 10 teams are split into two groups of five. The group stage is followed by a Super Six phase and then a final. The format was approved by the ICC Women's Cricket Committee and confirmed by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee.
Why does the expansion matter for women's cricket development?
Including Full Members alongside Associates raises the competitive standard for developing nations, giving players exposure to higher-calibre opposition. Performances also count toward ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings, making the tournament a meaningful stepping stone in the international women's cricket calendar.
