Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy Grows to 10 Teams, Five Full Members Join the Fight in Ajman

The ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy is getting bigger, bolder and tougher. The second edition, running from 12 to 25 November in Ajman, UAE, expands from eight to 10 teams. For the first time, five ICC Full Members will line up alongside five Associate Members in a revamped pathway event.

A Bigger Field and a Tougher Test

Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe step in as Full Member sides. They join Associate Members the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

All matches will be played at two venues in Ajman: Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground and Seven Districts Sports Club. The expansion is part of the ICC’s continued investment in the global women’s cricket pathway.

The mix of Full and Associate Members means players get regular chances to face a wider range of international opposition. That is exactly the aim of the tournament.

Groups and Format Explained

The 10 teams are split into two groups of five. They then move into a Super Six stage before the Final on 25 November. The format was approved after a recommendation from the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee and confirmation by the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee.

Group Line-Ups

Tournament at a Glance

What the ICC Is Saying

ICC General Manager – Events and Cricket Operations, Gaurav Saxena, called the expansion an important step for emerging teams.

“The expansion of the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy to 10 teams is an important step in providing more meaningful international competition for emerging teams and supporting the continued growth of women’s cricket.”

Saxena also stressed the value of the mixed field. “Bringing together five Full Members and five Associate Members will create valuable opportunities for players to test themselves against a wider range of opposition and gain experience in a high-performance environment,” he said.

Building on a Thrilling 2025 Debut

The tournament builds on the inaugural edition in 2025, when Thailand claimed the title on home soil. They finished level on points with Scotland, the Netherlands and the UAE, and net run rate decided the final standings.

That tight finish showed how competitive the event can be. Several players also made gains in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings after the tournament, which underlined the value of regular high-level competition for emerging teams.

With stronger opposition this time, the race to the Super Six should be even more intense.

Opening Day Blockbusters

The action starts on 12 November with four matches across the two grounds. Sri Lanka face Ireland and PNG meet Scotland in the morning. Pakistan take on Bangladesh and the Netherlands play Thailand in the afternoon.

With only the top teams from each group advancing, every early result could shape the Super Six picture.

Full Match Schedule

All timings are local UAE time.

Group Stage and Super Six Fixtures

Why This Edition Matters

Putting Full Members and Associates in the same competition raises the stakes for everyone. Emerging sides get a proper high-performance test, while Full Members face teams eager to make a statement.

With Thailand’s 2025 triumph still fresh, the question now is who can rise to the top in Ajman. The race starts on 12 November and ends with the Final on 25 November.