Bangkok— The road to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 officially resumes with the start of the Asia Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand, where nine national teams will compete for just two coveted spots in the global qualifier stage.
The participating nations — Thailand (hosts), Nepal, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Malaysia, Bhutan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar — are all set to battle it out in the group stages, beginning May 8 and continuing through May 18.
High Stakes in Bangkok
The Asia Qualifier is a key step in the global qualification pathway for the Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales in June–July 2026 with an expanded roster of 12 teams. Only the top two teams from the Asia Qualifier will advance to the Global Qualifier, where they’ll join other regional champions and high-ranking nations for a chance to book their ticket to the World Cup.
Matches will be held at two venues: the Terdthai Cricket Ground and the Asian Institute of Technology Ground in Bangkok.
Tournament Format
The teams are divided into three groups of three. Each team plays the others in its group once, and the group winners advance to a Super Three stage. From there, the top two finishers will move forward to the Global Qualifier, expected to be held later this year.
Opening Day Fixtures (May 8):
- Thailand vs Kuwait
- UAE vs Malaysia
- Nepal vs Hong Kong (China)
ICC and Regional Voices Speak
Aminul Islam, ICC Development Manager – Asia, noted the steady growth of the women’s game in the region. “We’ve seen exciting development in women’s cricket across Asia. This event will showcase how far these teams have come — not only in performance but in professionalism and ambition.”
Mohideen Kader, CEO of the Cricket Association of Thailand, added: “We are honored to host this important tournament. It’s not just about qualifying — it’s about empowering women through sport and providing a platform for talent to shine.”
What’s at Stake
The two top teams from the Asia Qualifier will join others already in the Global Qualifier, including the USA (Americas regional qualifier winners), Bangladesh, and Scotland. More teams will be added from the Europe, Africa, and East Asia-Pacific regions in the coming months.
Where to Watch
Cricket fans can stream every match of the tournament live and for free on ICC.tv. In the Indian subcontinent, coverage is also available via FanCode.
