The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 officially got underway in London on Sunday with a grand Captains’ Carnival featuring the leaders of all 12 participating teams ahead of the tournament’s opening match on June 12.
Cricket fans around the world followed the event through live broadcasts on ICC TV, YouTube, and various international media platforms.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana joined fans by taking selfies and playing cricket. PCB shared pictures on its social media platform.
First introduced in 2009, the Women’s T20 World Cup has expanded significantly over the past 17 years. This year’s opening celebration, staged against some of London’s most famous landmarks, marked the beginning of the tournament’s largest edition to date.
The competition has grown from 10 to 12 teams, increasing the level of competition among sides aiming for the title.
Although Australia remains the most successful team in the history of the tournament, New Zealand enters the event as defending champions after defeating South Africa by 32 runs in the 2024 final.
India will also be among the strong contenders as they seek to translate their recent ODI success into the T20 format. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India secured their first women’s global title by winning the ODI World Cup on home soil in 2025.
The Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will run from June 12 to July 5 across seven venues in England, with the final scheduled to be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
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