Mumbai: With just 30 days remaining before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins, the International Cricket Council has unveiled the complete warm-up fixtures schedule ahead of the tournament in England.
A total of 12 warm-up matches will be played between June 6 and June 10 across Derby, Loughborough, and Cardiff before the main tournament begins on June 12, when hosts England take on Sri Lanka in Birmingham.
The warm-up fixtures are expected to provide crucial preparation time for all participating teams while also giving fans an early glimpse of several high-profile contests.
Last edition’s finalists, New Zealand and South Africa, will both be in action on the opening day itself. Tournament debutants Netherlands will face Scotland in Derby as part of the opening round of fixtures.
Among the standout encounters, hosts England are scheduled to face reigning champions Australia on June 8 in Cardiff before taking on India on June 10 in another marquee clash.
Another highly anticipated fixture will see New Zealand meet South Africa again on June 9 in Loughborough — a rematch of the previous edition’s final.
Teams such as the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Scotland secured qualification through the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier and will use the warm-up fixtures to finalise combinations and adjust to conditions ahead of the tournament proper.
Warm-up Fixtures Schedule (Local Time)
June 6
- Netherlands vs Scotland – Derby, 10 AM
- South Africa vs Ireland – Loughborough, 10 AM
- Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Derby, 3 PM
- New Zealand vs Bangladesh – Loughborough, 3 PM
June 8
- West Indies vs India – Cardiff, 10 AM
- England vs Australia – Cardiff, 3 PM
June 9
- Scotland vs Pakistan – Derby, 10 AM
- Ireland vs Bangladesh – Loughborough, 10 AM
- Netherlands vs Sri Lanka – Derby, 3 PM
- South Africa vs New Zealand – Loughborough, 3 PM
June 10
- India vs England – Cardiff, 10 AM
- West Indies vs Australia – Cardiff, 3 PM
Meanwhile, excitement around the tournament continues to grow rapidly. The ICC has confirmed that ticket sales for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 have already crossed 145,000, making it the highest-selling edition in the tournament’s history even before the competition begins.
With a month still left before the opening match, organisers expect ticket sales to cross the 150,000 mark soon, underlining the growing popularity and commercial rise of women’s cricket globally.
