The women’s cricket arena is growing and glowing as much-needed changes are taking place. With new advancements in facilities, equipment, and sponsorships, we will now see more teams interested in playing cricket on the bigger stage. The International Council of Cricket (ICC) announced on Wednesday the inclusion of two new teams in the ICC Women’s Championship. Here in this article, we have talked about the Two New Teams Added in ICC Women’s Championship.
Two New Teams Added in ICC Women’s Championship – Bangladesh and Ireland
Earlier there were 8 teams that contested in the championship but the inclusion of Bangladesh and Ireland brings the tally to 10. This will also provide a direct qualification to the new teams in the Women’s World Cup 2025. The already existing members include India, Pakistan, England, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and South Africa.
Change in Format
The new changes are brought in to promote and accelerate the growth of Women’s cricket and influence more nations to encourage women into opting for the sport.
Over the next three years, each side will play eight three-match series (four at home and four away). The top five countries and the hosts will qualify for the World Cup in 2025 at the end of the cycle, while the remaining teams will compete in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 will kick off in Karachi on June 1-5, 2022, with a series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Australia has won the previous two 2014-16 and 2017-20 times and will look on to defend the title.
ODI Status to New Teams
As part of the revised Cricket World Cup qualification road, which is now independent of the T20 World Cup qualification pathway, five Associate women’s sides, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, and the United States, have been accorded ODI status with immediate effect. These teams’ ODI performances will decide their ODI rankings, which will factor into their qualification for the 2025 Cricket World Cup.
A Welcomed Change
ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said “Increasing the number of teams in the ICC Women’s Championship and awarding ODI status to five additional teams will help us to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. More teams playing more regularly creates a more competitive environment as we saw at the recent ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.” He further added, “The context that the IWC brings is so important and ensures fans around the world can enjoy meaningful and competitive cricket throughout the year. I wish all the teams in the ICC Women’s Championship the very best in this next edition and good luck to the Netherlands, PNG, Scotland, Thailand, and the USA on what I hope will be a great opportunity to develop in 50 over cricket in their countries.”.
Meg Lanning, the previous Champion of the Trophy said “The third edition of the Championship is going to be exciting. As we saw at the most recent ODI World Cup, there are a number of nations really starting to emerge so we’re going to have to be at the top of our game. We pride ourselves on finding ways to keep evolving and it’ll be more important than ever over the next period.”
The Runners Up and England Captain also appreciated the new change as she said “We’re really excited about the new cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship. Playing everyone, home and away, in meaningful fixtures provides an excellent structure to the women’s international game and it’s great to get back to our normal schedule after COVID-19. Our objective will be to win as many games as possible and to be in the best place that we can be going into the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.”
IWC 2022-25 Match-ups:
The following are the matchups for the series for various countries:
Australia
Home: India, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies
Away: England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Ireland
Bangladesh
Home: India, Australia, Pakistan, Ireland
Away: New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies
England
Home: India, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Away: New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, West Indies
India
Home: New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, West Indies
Away: England, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Ireland
Home: England, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka
Away: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Indies
New Zealand
Home: England, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan
Away: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies
Pakistan
Home: South Africa, Ireland, Sri Lanka, West Indies
Away: England, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh
South Africa
Home: England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Away: India, Australia, Pakistan, Ireland
Sri Lanka
Home: India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, West Indies
Away: England, South Africa, Pakistan, Ireland
West Indies
Home: England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Ireland
Away: India, Australia, Pakistan, Ireland
