ICC Announces New Tournament With No India Matches

Jay Shah's ICC announces new tournament [Source: AFP]

In a historic decision, the Jay Shah-led ICC has announced a new ICC T20 tournament ahead of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Interestingly, the Indian cricket team won't be a part of the competition, which is going to be held for the first time in history. 

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian Women's team is gearing up for the 2026 T20 World Cup edition. 

India had a torrid run in the previous T20 World Cup edition, making a humiliating group-stage exit from the competition. 

They could secure only two wins across four matches, failing to qualify for the semifinal of the tournament. 

Talking about India Women's recent white-ball performances, they broke an ICC title drought and clinched their first-ever World Cup trophy on home soil last year. 

Soon after their maiden World Cup win, the Indian side enjoyed stellar success Down Under, defeating a formidable Australian outfit in a three-match T20I series in their backyard. 

The Women in Blue are set to face South Africa in a five-match T20I series to fine-tune their skills for the showpiece event. 

Meanwhile, as Harmanpreet Kaur and her troops prepare for the showpiece event, the Jay Shah-led ICC has announced a new T20 tournament named ICC Women's T20I challenge. 

ICC confirms inaugural T20I challenge trophy for Women

In a significant development, the Jay Shah-led apex body confirmed the inaugural season of the T20I challenge trophy for Women on Friday afternoon. In its official press release, the ICC stated that this is a new tournament and will be played in Kigali, Rwanda.

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The first-ever ICC T20I challenge for Women will be conducted from April 18 to May 2. It's sole purpose is to provide exposure to the Associate nations and therefore marquee teams like Australia, India, England and South Africa etc. won't be a part of it. 

ICC Women's T20I challenge teams and format

The first edition of the ICC Women's T20I challenge will be played between five teams- Rwanda, Italy, Nepal, USA and Vanuatu. 

The ICC tournament involves double round-robin matches between the participating teams. This means the sides will face each other twice, with the best two teams qualifying for the final of the tournament. 

Jay Shah-governed organisation has added the ICC Women's T20I challenge to the cricket calendar, as it aims to provide ample exposure to its associate members. 

The highest placed team in the regional T20 World Cup qualifiers from each of the ICC's five regions, who didn't participate in the Emerging Nations Trophy last year, will feature in this event. 

ICC Women's T20I challenge schedule and fixtures

(ICC Women's T20I challenge schedule)

As revealed by the ICC, the participating teams will face each other twice in the group-stage, which comprises 20 matches.  

Hosts Rwanda will take on Italy in the first match of the ICC Women's T20I challenge, with Nepal crossing swords against the United States in the subsequent clash. 

All twenty matches of the tournament will be played at the Gahanga Cricket Stadiums' two grounds in Kigali, Rwanda. 

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