Pakistan to Host England, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe Women’s Cricket Teams

Pakistan will host England, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe women’s cricket teams for the first time as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2025-2029. Zimbabwe will tour in April/May 2026, New Zealand in April 2027, and England in October 2027. The ICC Women’s Championship from 2026-29 will feature 11 teams, including Zimbabwe, competing for qualification to the 2029 World Cup.

In a groundbreaking announcement by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan is set to host the England, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe women’s cricket teams for the first time. This significant development is part of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme for 2025-2029. The Zimbabwean women’s team will visit Pakistan during April and May of 2026, followed by New Zealand’s tour in April of 2027, and England’s visit scheduled for October of the same year. The forthcoming cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship, taking place from 2026 to 2029, will include 11 participating teams vying for direct qualification to the ICC Women’s 50-over World Cup in 2029. Notably, the Zimbabwean team will compete in this Championship for the first time. The format will remain similar to previous editions, with each team playing four home and four away series. A total of 132 One Day Internationals (ODIs) will be played across 44 series, with each series comprising three matches. In addition, Bangladesh is anticipated to visit Pakistan in October 2028 as the fourth team in the ICC Women’s Championship. Pakistan’s away schedule includes tours to South Africa in February 2026, a July series in Sri Lanka, and further visits to the West Indies in November 2026 and Ireland in June 2028. The Future Tour Programme also outlines that an ICC Women’s tournament will occur annually, starting with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027, and another T20 World Cup in 2028. To facilitate preparation for these ICC events, member nations have arranged tri-series tournaments, including a competition involving Pakistan, the West Indies, and Ireland prior to the 2026 T20 World Cup in England.

The focus of this article is on the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, which sets the schedule for international women’s cricket matches from 2025 to 2029. The inclusion of England, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe’s women’s teams touring Pakistan denotes a significant step forward for women’s cricket in the country, marking a commitment by ICC to expand international competition and opportunities for emerging teams. The Women’s Championship framework aims to enhance competitiveness and provide more matches to strengthen the participating teams ahead of major tournaments.

In conclusion, the ICC’s Future Tours Programme heralds a new era for women’s cricket, particularly in Pakistan, as it prepares to host prominent teams for the first time. This initiative will not only increase competitive opportunities for the Pakistan women’s cricket team but also enhance the overall growth of women’s cricket globally. The scheduled tournaments and matches are a testament to the ICC’s focus on fostering inclusivity and providing a platform for developing cricket nations.

Original Source: dunyanews.tv