ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Preview: Group A
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
England and Wales Cricket Board will host the 10th edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup starting from 12th June. This will be the first ever Women's World Cup with 12 Teams divided in two groups of 6 each. New Zealand will be looking to defend their title from 2024 when they defeated South Africa by 32 runs in the UAE. Australia and West Indies were the other semi-finalists in the 10-team competition from two years ago. This year's tournament will consist of 30 Group games at Edgbaston, Old Trafford, The Rose Bowl, Headingley, Country Ground, Lord's and Kennington Oval followed by the semi-finals hosted by Kennington Oval and the final at Lord's cricket ground on July 5th.
Australia has won the title 6 times in the past alongside one each shared by England, West Indies and New Zealand. England won the maiden T20 World Cup at home in 2009 against New Zealand, winning the final by 6 wickets. Australia are favorites again even after missing out on the last two ICC titles with South Africa and the hosts being strong contenders. England will try to utilize the familiar home conditions. Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland sealed the qualifying spots from the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier hosted by Nepal in early 2026. Netherlands will become the 13th participant in the history of ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
We will be reviewing the different teams participating in the event from both the groups. Let's start with Group A consisting of Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan Bangladesh and Netherlands.
Netherlands
It will be a momentous occasion for the Women in Orange as they make their debut in the T20 edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup becoming the 13th ever nation to play this prestigious ICC tournament. Netherlands started their Qualifying journey from Division 1 of the ICC Europe Regional Qualifiers eventually sealing their spot in the Global Qualifiers and then scripting history by qualifying for this year's marquee ICC event in women's cricket. This achievement by the Dutch Women will garner headlines all across the country and inspire young girls to take up this sport and create more popularity.
The Dutch Women will make their first ever appearance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at this edition
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Netherlands Women are one of the most active teams in the T20I format playing a total of 35 matches since the start of 2025, the most among all the participating teams. They participated in a tri-series held in Nepal featuring the home side and eventual winners Thailand as the Dutch side finished second. A 4-0 clean sweep against USA was followed by the ICC Europe Division 1 Qualifiers where they finished in second position behind Ireland and progressed to the Global Qualifiers. Netherlands' next assignment was the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy where they came third on Net Run Rate behind winners Thailand and runners-up UAE. They took their revenge in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers, topping their Group with 4 wins in 4 games and then finishing fourth in the Super Six Stage to grab onto the last qualifying spot as Thailand finished on the bottom. They participated in a tri-series featuring hosts & winners Scotland along with Bangladesh to prepare for the World Cup. They ended up with only 1 win in 4 games which came against Bangladesh, their biggest win so far in this format.
Squad
Bas De Leede's cousin and women's wicket-keeper Babette de Leede will captain the side in their maiden T20 World Cup and bat at No. 3. All-rounder Heather Siegers will open with Phebe Molkenber. Star batter Sterre Kallis will bat below de Leede whose experience will be most important for the side as Kallis is a regular in the English domestic cricket and even participated in the Hundred. Experienced all-round pacers Robin Rijike, Frederique Overdijk and Iris Zwilling will form the lower order. Silver Siegers and Caroline de Lange will employ their leg spin accompanying the pace of Isabel van der Woning. Rosalie Ann Lawrence is the back-up wicketkeeper in the squad. Iris Zwilling and Caroline De Lange are the leading wicket-takers among the participating teams since the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup with 45 and 33 wickets respectively.
Prediction
Group Stage
Netherland start their campaign against Bangladesh in Edgbaston which will be their best chance to register a maiden win at their debut tournament. They will play India next at Headingley followed by Australia at The Rose Bowl. South Africa will be their penultimate opponents at County Ground, Bristol before finishing the competition against Pakistan at the same ground.
Netherlands will play Scotland and Sri Lanka in the Warm-up Games at Derby.
Bangladesh
The Bangladesh side made their bow at the ICC T20 World Cup during the 2014 edition as the hosts, when the tournament was extended to 10 participants for the first time and they have been a regular member ever since. They scripted history in their debut tournament when they defeated Sri Lanka by 3 runs but finished at the bottom of the Group Stage. They ended up in the ninth spot after winning the 9th-place play-off against Ireland. Bangladesh Women lost all the matches in the subsequent editions until 2024 defeating Scotland in their opening match but still finished at 4th in the Group Stage.
Bangladesh Women will be playing an International match in England for the first time
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Bangladesh started their journey to this World Cup with a loss 3-0 at the hands of Ireland Women at home. The next 3-0 defeat came at the hands of West Indies in January 2025. Bangladesh qualified directly for the Global Qualifiers due to their participation in the last World Cup where they went unbeaten in Nepal early this year. Bangladesh again lost 3-0 at home to Sri Lanka. They prepared for the World Cup with a tri-series against Scotland and Netherlands Women last week. Bangladesh started with a defeat in the first two matches admitting they could not adjust to the windy conditions but finished the series with two straight wins.
Squad
Bangladesh will be led by captain Nigar Sultana for the third straight T20 World Cup. 22-year old explosive opener Dilara Akter should open the batting with another young prodigy Juairiya Ferdous followed by Sobhana Mostary, captain Sultana and Sharmin Akhter. Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni will double up as all-rounders and finishers in the lower order. Bangladesh have selected only two fast-bowlers Marufa Akter and Fariha Trisna coupled with Moni's medium pace. Vice-captain Nahida Akter, Sanjida Akter Meghla, Sultana Khatun will be the finger spinners along with wrist spinners Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan.
Prediction
Group Stage
Bangladesh start against Netherlands at Edgbaston. Australia will be next at Headingley followed by Pakistan at The Rose Bowl. Their penultimate opponents are India whom they play at Old Trafford ending their Group Stage matches at Lord's against South Africa.
Bangladesh will play New Zealand and Ireland in the Warm up Games at Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough.
Pakistan
Pakistan Women are one of the eight teams who have participated in all the 10 Women's T20 World Cup versions. Pakistan finished bottom of their group in 2009 and 2010 and their maiden win finally came against India in 2012 at Galle. They finished 7th in 2014 after winning the Play-off match against Sri Lanka. Pakistan narrowly missed out on the semi-final spot in 2016 after finishing third in their group behind eventual winners West Indies and England.
They returned only a single win in all the next four editions against Ireland, Thailand, Ireland and Sri Lanka respectively. Pakistan qualified directly for this year's World Cup thanks to the ICC T20I rankings criteria where they finished above Bangladesh and Ireland before the cut-off date.
Pakistan Women will have their task cut out in a strong Group featuring South Africa, India and Australia
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Squad
24-year old Fatima Sana will lead this side for a second consecutive T20 World Cup. Wicket-keeper Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza will be the designated openers. Ayesha Zafar who became the second Pakistani Women cricketer after Muneeba to score a T20I hundred will head the middle order partnered with experienced Aliya Riaz, Saira Jabeen and Iram Javed. Captain Fatima averages 39 and has a Strike Rate of 139.64 with the bat acting as a perfect finisher. Diana Baig and Left-arm Medium Tasmia Rubab are the pacers. Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu and Rameem Shamim will be their finger-spinners back-up by the leg spin of Tuba Hassan.
Prediction
Group Stage
Pakistan start their tournament against arch-rivals India at Edgbaston followed by South Africa at the same venue. Bangladesh will be their next opponents at The Rose Bowl. Their penultimate game will be against Australia at Headingley with Netherlands being their last competitors closing the Group Stage at County Ground, Bristol.
South Africa
Similar to their men's side, the South Africa Women's team is also searching for their maiden ICC World Cup trophy. Finalists in the last two T20 World Cups, they will be hoping to finally clinch the elusive silverware in England. After starting winless in 2009 and 2010, South Africa finally clinched their first T20 World Cup victory in 2012 against Sri Lanka. They made the semi-finals in 2014 which they lost to runners-up England.
The 2016 and 2018 tournaments saw them crash out at the Group Stage again. South Africa topped their Group in 2020 but lost to champions Australia in the semi-finals by 5 runs on DLS method. The lost the finals at home to Australia in 2023 by 19 runs but took their revenge next year in the semi-finals, winnings against the Aussies by 8 wickets. New Zealand won that final by 32 runs causing another heart-break for the Proteas.
South Africa Women finished as the runners-up in the last three ICC tournaments since 2023
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The Proteas Women have experimented in the lead-up to this year's tournament. After losing 3-0 at home to England immediately after the last T20 World Cup, South Africa suffered another shock loss to West Indies away by a margin of 2-1. They won their next two T20 series at home against Ireland 2-0 and Pakistan 2-1. South Africa travelled to New Zealand for a 5-match T20I series in March losing 4-1 but bounced back against India at home to win the series 4-1. Squad
The most notable headline for Laura Wolvaardt's team has been the return of world's fastest Women pacer Shabnim Ismail, a comeback initiated by head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. Captain Wolvaardt and all-rounder Sune Luus will open the batting. Tazmin Brits and Dane Van Niekerk will round up the top 4. Sinalo Jafta takes the gloves and Karabo Meso is her back-up. Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tyron are the all-rounders. The destructive 20-year old Kayla Reyneke who made her debut this year and has a Strike Rate of 157.42 might turn out to be the point of difference with her finishing and off-break bowling. Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka and Tumi Sekhukhune's pace will be accompanied by Nonkululeko Mlaba's left-arm orthodox spin.
Prediction
Runners-up
South Africa face Australia in their first game at Old Trafford. They will travel to Edgbaston next to face Pakistan and then back to Old Trafford for their match against India. Netherlands are their second-last opponents at County Ground, Bristol. South Africa will conclude the Group Stage in Lord's against Bangladesh.
South Africa will face Ireland and New Zealand in the Warm up Games at Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough.
India
For a nation who has seen their men's side dominate the T20 World Cup by being the only side to win it three times, it's almost a tragedy for the Women who have entered the final only once finishing second to Australia Women. India made the top 4 in 2009 but were thrashed New Zealand by 52 runs in the semi-finals. They followed up the inaugural result by making the semis again but lost to Australia by 7 wickets. Pressure mounted with a run of three consecutive Group Stage exits including the 2016 edition at home.
India topped the group in 2018 but lost to England in the semi-finals. They finally reached the finals of 2020 World Cup thanks to their superior finish in the Group Stages which helped them qualify in a rain-washed semi-final against England. Australia dominated the final winning the match by 85 runs at the MCG. They lost to the Aussies again in the semi-final of the next tournament by 5 runs after dominating majority of the game. India exited at the Group Stage in 2024 after losing to both Australia and eventual winners New Zealand.
India will be searching for their first ICC Women's T20 World Cup after winning their maiden ICC trophy last year
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India's run to this year's World Cup started with a 2-1 win against West Indies at home. Coach Amol Mazumdar has tried 27 players since Dec 2024, the most by any team in this period. India completed another series win in England, defeating the hosts 3-2 in a 5 match T20I series. They continued their excellent form, completing a 5-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka and then winning 2-1 in Australia away. India lost their next two series away from home, 4-1 against South Africa and 2-1 against England just before the start of the World Cup causing a slight worry but their overall form has generally been good especially in English conditions.Squad
The Harmanpreet Kaur led side has been affected by injuries to their seam-bowling all-rounders Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar and Kashvee Gautam robbing the side of a proper sixth-bowling option which might become a kryptonite against a spot in the semi-finals. Smriti Mandhana, Shaifali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh will the their top 6 providing the batting order much-need stability. Bharti Fulmali is their back-up finisher. Deepti Sharma, whose form with the bat has been concerning will take the No. 7 spot. Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy and the newcomer Nandini Sharma are the pacers. Shree Charani, their highest wicket-taker in the last 18 months should start as their number one spinner. Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav are the two other options in the squad.
Prediction
Group Stage
India might consider them unlucky after being grouped with teams like Australia and South Africa, two teams which look favorites for the title. India start against Pakistan at Edgbaston and then play Netherlands at Headingley. They will have their task cut out against South Africa at Old Trafford followed by Bangladesh on the same venue. India and Australia will complete the Group Stage at the Lord's cricket ground. They are likely to crash out at Group Stage given the nature of the format which allows only two teams to progress from a single group but this team has a tendency to cause huge upsets as seen in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025.
India will face West Indies at Cardiff and England at Derby in the Warm up Games.
Australia
There are very few teams with a CV as strong as the Australian Women cricket side in sporting community. For years, they have solely dominated the sport winning almost everything that has come their way. Champions in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023. Runners-up in 2016, Semi-finalists in 2009 and 2024. The Australian Women side has never failed to make the knockouts of the T20 World Cup. They won their first two titles under Alex Blackwell and Jodie Fields. Meg Lanning took over the captaincy in 2014 winning 4 titles since 2023.
Alyssa Healy was named their captain after the retirement of Meg Lanning. They played only one T20 World Cup under Healy where they were knocked out by South Africa in the semis. Healy herself has retired this year and Sophie Molineux was appointed their latest captain who will lead this side in England. The Australian cricket team are the favorites again but there is a certain vulnerability in recent times which other teams can expose.
Australia Women are the favorites to win their seventh T20 World Cup
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Australia surprisingly has been the most under-prepared side coming into this World Cup. They have played just 12 matches since the end of last edition, least by any participating team in the competition. Australia Women played just four 3-match series winning by a margin of 3-0 against England, New Zealand and West Indies but lost to India 2-1 at home this year. Their lack of adequate preparation might be one area where other teams hold an advantage over this champion team.Squad
Sophie Molineux's first big assignment as captain will be leading her side to the title at this year's World Cup. Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner are both designated vice-captains. The whole squad is filled with match-winners. Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll comprise of their top three with Mooney taking the gloves behind-the-wicket. Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, McGrath and Gardner will form the middle order and double up as all-rounders.
Megan Schutt, playing her last ICC tournament will be leading the pace attack which also has Kim Garth and 20-year old speedster Lucy Hamilton. Alana King, Georgia Wareham are two leg spinners partnering captain Molineux in the spin department. Nicola Carey and Grace Harris complete the whole 15 selected for Australia.
Prediction
Winners
Australia and South Africa, the two favorites will face off in Old Trafford for their first game. They will travel to Headingley for their match with Bangladesh Women followed by Netherlands at The Rose Bowl. Australia will again travel back to Headingley to play Pakistan and finish the Group Stage at Lord's against India.
Australia will face England at Cardiff and West Indies in Derby in the Warm up Games.
References: Statsguru by ESPNCricinfo
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