The International Cricket Council (ICC) has widened the scope of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy for its second edition, expanding the competition from eight to ten teams in a move aimed at accelerating the growth of women’s cricket beyond the traditional powerhouses. Scheduled to be held in November this year, the tournament will now feature Full Member and Associate nations, reflecting the ICC’s increasing focus on building competitive depth across the women’s game.
Five Test-playing nations — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland are set to join Associate members Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea in the expanded competition. The decision was finalised during an online meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee (CEC) on May 21.
The revised format marks a significant shift from the inaugural edition staged in Bangkok in November 2025, which featured only Associate nations alongside hosts Thailand. That tournament included Scotland, Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Papua New Guinea, Namibia, Uganda and Tanzania and was viewed as a stepping stone toward increasing high-quality international exposure for developing women’s teams.
Thailand eventually lifted the inaugural title after finishing level on points with UAE, Scotland and the Netherlands. Net run rate separated the sides in an intensely competitive tournament that highlighted the growing standard of women’s cricket among emerging nations.
The decision to introduce Test-playing teams into the second edition signals a broader ambition from the ICC by creating stronger pathways for talent development while also providing more meaningful competition to teams outside major global tournaments. The move comes during a period of renewed momentum for women’s cricket worldwide. ICC leadership has placed women’s cricket development among its long-term priorities, aiming not only to strengthen elite competition but also to create wider opportunities for emerging cricketing nations to close the gap on established teams.
Expanding tournaments such as the Emerging Nations Trophy could prove critical in that process. Associate sides often face limited international schedules compared to Full Members, making developmental competitions valuable platforms for players to gain exposure against varied opposition and higher competitive standards. The inclusion of nations like Ireland and Zimbabwe also provides opportunities for teams that continue rebuilding and strengthening their women’s programmes, while countries such as Thailand, Scotland and Netherlands now receive another chance to test themselves against stronger opposition.
The ICC’s broader vision appears aligned with ensuring women’s cricket grows not only through marquee global events but through sustained investment across all levels of the international game.
Over recent years, women’s cricket has witnessed increased professionalisation, expanded domestic leagues and growing fan engagement across multiple regions. The Emerging Nations Trophy forms part of that larger ecosystem, designed to widen the talent pipeline and increase competitive opportunities beyond established cricket centres. With ten teams now confirmed and November’s tournament approaching, the second edition carries greater significance and competition than before.
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