The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed an ambitious Future Tours Programme (FTP) for women’s cricket spanning 2025 to 2029. This cycle will feature approximately 400 matches across all formats, a marked increase from the previous cycle (2022-2025). Driven by the ICC Women’s Championship’s fourth edition, the schedule encompasses international fixtures across all three formats and includes multiple tri-series.
With an ICC event scheduled every year, the cycle highlights the first-ever six-team Champions Trophy in 2027, offering an unprecedented level of competition and visibility for the sport. Key events include the Women’s Cricket World Cup in India (2025), the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UK (2026), and another T20 World Cup in 2028 (host to be announced).
Growth of the Women’s Championship and Qualifying Pathways
The Women’s Championship, launched in 2014 to enhance women’s cricket exposure, will now see 11 teams competing as Zimbabwe joins. Each team will play eight others, with four series at home and four away, for a total of 132 ODIs across 44 series. This setup not only supports the qualification process for the 2029 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup but also allows teams to schedule other formats alongside these tours.
A mutual agreement among Member Boards has led to various tri-series being scheduled as preparation for ICC events, including England hosting India and New Zealand before the 2026 T20 World Cup and Ireland hosting Pakistan and the West Indies. These tri-series will bolster competitive play and offer practice opportunities in different environments ahead of major tournaments.
Enhanced Test Series and Multi-Format Matches
The 2025-2029 FTP cycle features an increased number of Test matches, as Australia, England, India, South Africa, and the West Indies have committed to multi-format series. Australia leads with seven series, including two each against England, India, and South Africa, and one against the West Indies. This expanded commitment to Tests marks a milestone for the women’s game, complementing the ODIs and T20Is to provide a balanced international calendar.
ICC General Manager Wasim Khan praised the FTP for offering clarity and consistency, noting the importance of the ODIs in the Women’s Championship as a qualification pathway. Khan highlighted the role of Member Boards in achieving a contextual and engaging schedule, expressing confidence that the FTP’s structure will advance the women’s game on a global scale.
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