ICC confirms 10-team Women's Emerging Nations Trophy for November
The ICC has expanded the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy to 10 teams for the November 2026 edition.
The second ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy will run from 12 to 25 November 2026. Ten teams will compete, two more than in the inaugural edition. Five full-member nations, Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, join the tournament for the first time. Five associate members, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and UAE, complete the field.
Teams are split into two groups of five, followed by a Super Six stage and a final. Group A contains Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Sri Lanka and UAE. Group B includes Bangladesh, Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand and Zimbabwe. ICC general manager Gaurav Saxena said the expansion offers more meaningful international competition.
Thailand won the first edition in 2025, decided on net run rate after four teams finished level on points.
CricHubb Take
Thailand's net-run-rate victory in the first tournament showed how tight the margins can be when associate sides play full-member teams; the expanded field will test whether the format can still produce decisive results.