ICC Announces Game-Changing Decision For Women's Cricket

ICC takes measures to promote Women's cricket [Source: AFP]

The landscape has changed for Women’s cricket in the last decade. They are featuring in more matches, and that has given them more exposure. The Women’s World Cup 2025 was a prime example of how things have changed in Women’s cricket.

The tournament, which was contested in India and Sri Lanka, recorded unprecedented global viewership, and as a result, the ICC is now planning to reward Women’s cricket with a special gift.

Jay Shah's ICC rewards Women's cricket

In the latest development, Jay Shah, the Chairman of the ICC has taken drastic measures to take Women’s cricket ahead. Cricket’s global body has decided to broaden the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy, which was started, last year.

In the latest development, Jay Shah’s ICC has taken drastic measures to take Women’s cricket ahead. Cricket’s global body has decided to broaden the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy, which was started, last year.

5 associated nations and five Test-playing teams will participate in the competition that takes place in November 2026. Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand, the UAE and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are the associate sides, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland will join them.

This key decision was taken at ICC’s Chief Executives Committee meeting that took place online on Thursday.

Revenue, one of the reasons to expand Women’s cricket

For decades, women’s cricket was kept on the sidelines as men’s cricket was given priority by the board.

However, ever since the arrival of Jay Shah as the ICC Chairman, tables have flipped, and the World Cup in 2025 set the stage for Women’s cricket progress.

The total prize budget for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 was a record-breaking $13.88 million (over ₹123 crore). There was s 297% increase from the previous World Cup 2022, and it also surpassed the total prize money for the men’s World Cup in 2023.

With revenue in mind, the ICC has decided to take steps to support women’s cricket. The governing body aims to generate at least 100 million in revenue from women’s matches and tournaments.

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How the inaugural Women's Emerging Nations Trophy panned out

The inaugural edition took place last year in Bangkok from November 20 to 30. Apart from the hosts, Thailand side, the other sides that featured in the competition were Scotland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Four teams reached the semis, with Thailand, the UAE, Scotland, and Netherlands making the cut, and the hosts were declared the winners on net run-rate.

No discussion on Men's cricket in recent ICC meeting

For years, there have been talks of restructuring the World Test Championship (WTC) and the introduction of the two-tier system in Test cricket. However, as reported by Cricbuzz, that issue has been left with the ICC board, and the discussions could take place during the meeting that takes place in Ahmedabad on May 30.

The ICC delegates, and members of the cricket boards will arrive in India for a key discussion that took change the landscape of the game.

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