The Hundred window separately given by ICC in the new Women’s Future Tours Programme for women’s cricket for 2025-2029 along with WPL, and WBBL, features dedicated windows for key franchise leagues, an expanded Women’s Championship with 11 teams, and annual ICC events. This strategic move ensures smooth scheduling, reducing conflicts between franchise and international commitments, and fostering the growth of women’s cricket on a global scale.
ICC’s New Schedule Introduces Dedicated Windows for WPL, The Hundred Window, and WBBL
The Women’s Premier League (WPL), which debuted in March 2023, now has a dedicated slot in the ICC schedule, running from January to February starting in 2026. Similarly, The Hundred window is set for August with no overlapping international matches, while the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) is allocated for November.
To accommodate the WPL’s new timing, Australia’s home summer has been shifted from mid-January to late February through March, avoiding any clashes with the world’s most lucrative women’s franchise tournament.
1. Dedicated Windows for Franchise Leagues
Starting in 2026, the ICC has allocated specific windows for the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) The Hundred window, creating an organized schedule that avoids clashes with international matches.
| League | Window | Start Year | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Premier League (WPL) | January-February | 2026 | India’s premier women’s T20 league. |
| The Hundred (Women’s) | August | 2026 | England’s innovative 100-ball tournament. |
| Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) | November | 2026 | Australia’s flagship women’s T20 league. |
2. Expansion of the ICC Women’s Championship to 11 Teams
The ICC Women’s Championship has expanded from 10 to 11 teams with the inclusion of Zimbabwe. This addition strengthens the competition and highlights ICC’s commitment to expanding women’s cricket.
Key Features of the Expanded ICC Women’s Championship:
- New Entrant: Zimbabwe, joining Bangladesh and Ireland.
- Match Structure: Each team will play four series at home and four away over a three-year cycle.
- Bilateral Matches: India and Pakistan will only play each other in ICC tournaments.
| Zimbabwe’s Scheduled Matches in ICC Women’s Championship (2025-2029) |
|---|
| Home Series Against: South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Sri Lanka |
| Away Tours To: India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan |
Image Suggestion:
- A group photo of the Zimbabwe Women’s cricket team to emphasize their inclusion in this major championship.
3. Annual ICC Women’s Global Events
To maintain high engagement, the ICC will host a global women’s tournament every year, including the newly introduced T20 Champions Trophy in 2027. The ICC will feature five major events in this cycle, supporting the growth of competitive women’s cricket.
| Year | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ODI World Cup | TBD |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | England |
| 2027 | T20 Champions Trophy | Sri Lanka |
| 2028 | T20 World Cup | TBD |
| 2028 | Cricket Olympics | Los Angeles, USA |
| 2029 | ODI World Cup | TBD |
Image Suggestion:
- Calendar-style visual summarizing the major ICC events from 2025-2029.
4. Increased Number of Test Matches and the Return of West Indies
The FTP includes 15 women’s Test matches, with West Indies returning to Test cricket for the first time since 2003-04. West Indies will play Test matches against Australia, England, and South Africa over this cycle.
| West Indies’ Scheduled Test Matches (2025-2029) |
|---|
| 2026 |
| 2027 |
| 2028 |
Additional Test Matches:
- India will play Australia and South Africa in 2026.
- South Africa will host Australia for the first time in women’s Test cricket in 2027.
Image Suggestion:
- Photo of the West Indies women’s team to highlight their historic return to Test cricket.
5. Tri-Series Tournaments for Preparation
Several tri-series tournaments are included in the FTP, allowing teams to prepare effectively for major ICC events. These tri-series enhance match practice and competitiveness for the participating teams.
Upcoming Tri-Series Examples:
- England will host India and New Zealand before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- Ireland will host Pakistan and West Indies in preparation for the 2026 season.
- Sri Lanka and West Indies are scheduled to host tri-series in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
| Host Country | Teams Participating | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | India, New Zealand | 2026 |
| Ireland | Pakistan, West Indies | 2026 |
| Sri Lanka | TBD | 2027 |
| West Indies | TBD | 2028 |
6. Managing Growth and Player Welfare
With the global growth of women’s cricket, player welfare has become a key focus. The ICC’s new Future Tour Program aims to address issues such as player burnout and injury risk by ensuring dedicated windows for franchise leagues, which balance franchise and international commitments.