Women’s cricket is poised for a historic leap forward. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup will feature ten teams for the first time, expanding from the eight that have participated since 2000. The move marks one of the most significant reforms in the women’s game, signaling a long-term commitment to inclusivity, competition, and global reach.
The upcoming edition will see 48 matches, compared to the 31 played in the 2025 tournament, offering more nations the chance to compete at the highest level. The 2025 World Cup itself served as a reminder of how fine the margins can be in the current system — West Indies, runners-up in 2013, were denied a place due to net run rate. That result sparked fresh discussion on the need to widen the field, and the ICC appears to have taken that message to heart. Emerging teams such as Ireland and Scotland, both of whom have shown rapid development, are now among those likely to benefit from this expansion.
The ICC had first announced plans to broaden the women’s game in 2021, on International Women’s Day. Its latest statement reaffirmed this vision, describing the growth of women’s cricket as central to the sport’s global identity. The release celebrated the achievements of the 2025 tournament, which set unprecedented attendance and broadcast records. As the ICC observed in its statement, “Nearly 300,000 fans watched the event in the stadium breaking the record for tournament attendance for any women’s Cricket event.”
That energy extended far beyond the venues. Highlighting how the event transcended boundaries, the ICC revealed in its report that “The tournament also witnessed viewership growth and new records being set for on-screen audiences across the world with nearly 500 million viewers in India.” The numbers reflect a rapidly growing appetite for women’s cricket — one that the ICC is determined to nurture with structural expansion and high-profile visibility.
The momentum will continue in the shortest format. The Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for next year, will also grow from ten to twelve teams. This aligns with the ICC’s broader aim of giving new cricketing nations greater access to global tournaments, while ensuring the sport remains vibrant and competitive across regions.
The board meeting also brought confirmation that cricket’s Olympic return is officially taking shape. The Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Games will include both men’s and women’s T20 tournaments, forming part of a 28-sport program. Each competition will feature six teams — the top-ranked nation from each of the five global regions (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania), along with the host nation, USA. A final qualifying event will determine the sixth entrant, though its format has not yet been finalized. The matches will be played at the newly constructed Fairgrounds Stadium, around fifty kilometers outside Los Angeles, beginning on July 12, 2028.
Cricket’s re-emergence on the Olympic stage forms part of a larger integration of the sport into multi-sport events. Before LA28, the game will feature at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, the 2027 African Games in Cairo, and the 2027 PanAm Games in Lima, reinforcing cricket’s growing global network across continents.
Behind the scenes, discussions are already underway for what could be the next major milestone: cricket’s inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Reports suggest that ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta told board members that he had engaged in talks with the Brisbane 2032 organizers about including cricket in their program. Gupta, alongside ICC Chair Jay Shah, recently met with senior representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), LA28, and Brisbane 2032 in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss potential competition models, qualification paths, and event logistics. These conversations suggest that the ICC is not content with a single Olympic appearance; it is seeking to make cricket a lasting part of the Olympic landscape.
In addition to its global expansion efforts, the ICC also announced a significant step in the digital domain. The board will soon open tenders for its mobile cricket gaming rights, a project that has drawn considerable attention within the cricketing community. The official statement read, “The ICC Board confirmed its approval to issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for Video Gaming Rights, opening the door for leading global partners to collaborate with the ICC in delivering world-class, digital fan experiences.” This initiative highlights how the ICC intends to diversify cricket’s appeal — not just through tournaments, but also through interactive platforms that can engage younger audiences worldwide.
For the women’s game, however, the 2029 World Cup stands out as a defining moment. The expansion to ten teams represents more than just an increase in numbers; it represents a recognition that women’s cricket has arrived as a global force. With record crowds, record viewership, and Olympic dreams within reach, the sport is moving from growth to global prominence — a transformation the ICC appears fully prepared to lead.
(Quotes sourced from ESPN Cricinfo)
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