Harmanpreet urges calm as India slip to 0-2 deficit against South Africa
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is not overly worried about her team’s patchy form in the T20 format as they continue preparing for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the schedule for the inaugural Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy, set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from April 19 to May 2.
Matches will be played at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium, with its two adjacent grounds hosting the tournament.
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The five-team competition will see Italy face hosts Rwanda in the opening clash while Nepal takes on the USA on the same day. Vanuatu will sit out the opening fixtures before beginning their campaign against Rwanda.
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Introduced as part of the ICC’s efforts to broaden competitive opportunities, the Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy is aimed at providing greater international exposure to Associate Member teams. The event complements initiatives like the Emerging Nations Trophy, reinforcing the governing body’s push to strengthen the global women’s game.
The tournament features the top-ranked Associate teams from each of the ICC’s five regions that did not qualify for the Emerging Nations Trophy. Qualification was based on performances in the 2025 regional Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Played in a double round-robin format, the competition will offer consistent match exposure and high-quality game time, key for emerging sides looking to bridge the gap at the international level.
The event also aligns with the expansion plans for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will grow to 12 teams in 2026 and further expand to 16 teams by 2030.
Nepal and the USA head into the tournament as strong contenders, having featured in the most recent global qualifier. Nepal, ranked 21st in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, are the highest-ranked side in the competition.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu (ranked 30th) impressed during the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Fiji last year, notably registering a win over higher-ranked Indonesia.
Schedule (Key Fixtures)
April 19: Rwanda vs Italy; Nepal vs USA
April 20: Rwanda vs Vanuatu; Italy vs Nepal
April 21: Rwanda vs USA; Vanuatu vs Italy
April 22: Rwanda vs Nepal; USA vs Vanuatu
April 24: Nepal vs Vanuatu; Italy vs USA
April 26: Rwanda vs Vanuatu; USA vs Nepal
April 27: Rwanda vs Italy; USA vs Vanuatu
April 28: Rwanda vs Nepal; Italy vs Vanuatu
April 30: Italy vs USA; Nepal vs Vanuatu
May 1: Rwanda vs USA; Italy vs Nepal
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