The International Cricket Council (ICC) is making a bold move to boost the visibility and growth of women’s cricket with the introduction of the inaugural Women’s Cricket Week, scheduled for October 16 to 22, 2025. This initiative will coincide with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, marking a significant moment for the women’s game.
The aim of Women’s Cricket Week is multifaceted: it seeks to promote women’s cricket worldwide, inspire national boards—from established Full Members to emerging Associates—to engage their communities, and increase awareness and participation across all levels of the sport. ICC Chairman Jay Shah captured the spirit of the campaign, calling it “a celebration not just of the players on the world stage, but of every girl picking up a bat or ball, dreaming of what’s possible.”
Several Full Member nations are already preparing engaging community activities. The England & Wales Cricket Board will ramp up grassroots engagement ahead of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Cricket South Africa plans a full-day school event featuring exhibitions and matches with former Proteas women, and New Zealand Cricket will host a “Mini World Cup” for girls to recreate the thrill of international competition.
Associate Members are celebrating Women’s Cricket Week in creative ways worldwide. Mongolia and Turkey will host Criiio festivals with over 300 female participants each, with Turkey extending events across six provinces. Uzbekistan will stage a watch party in a national park, while Bahrain will screen World Cup matches in a cinema.
Oman and Myanmar are running female-only coaching courses, Malaysia will hold a women-led cricket festival, and Scotland will host a European Female Leaders’ Summit. The ICC will highlight these initiatives across its broadcast and digital platforms, featuring them in a dedicated Women’s Cricket Week segment on the World Cup world feed during the innings interval to showcase the event’s global impact.
Timing Women’s Cricket Week alongside the Women’s World Cup is a strategic move. By leveraging the heightened global attention around the tournament, the campaign can engage fans more effectively and spark wider conversations about women’s cricket. However, true progress will depend on sustained investment beyond this week—through infrastructure, coaching, domestic leagues, and media visibility—to ensure the momentum continues.
Equity in implementation is equally vital. While Full Members have the capacity for large-scale events, emerging nations need tailored support. The ICC’s emphasis on watch parties and coaching education is a promising start, but long-term success will hinge on providing financial aid, capacity building, and consistent mentorship to developing cricket nations.
Ultimately, Women’s Cricket Week could become a proving ground for innovative engagement—from digital “match-day challenges” and social media spotlights on local heroes to outreach in regions where cricket is still finding its roots.
With thoughtful execution and genuine commitment, this initiative could evolve from a one-off celebration into a cornerstone of global cricket development—transforming women’s cricket from the periphery into the pulse of the international sporting stage.
(Inputs sourced from ICC media release)
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