Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026: Schedule, Groups, Times

When and where? November 12 to 25, 2026, at two grounds in Ajman, UAE: the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground and the Seven Districts Sports Club.

How many teams? Ten, up from eight last year. For the first time, five Full Members (the ICC's top-tier nations) are taking part: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe. They join Thailand, the Netherlands, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and the UAE.

Who are the defending champions? Thailand, who won the first edition at home in 2025.

How many matches? 30: 20 group games, nine Super Six games and the final.

What time do the games start?

• Morning games: 9:00 AM UAE, which is 5:00 AM UK, 10:00 AM PKT, 10:30 AM IST and midnight (12:00 AM) ET.
• Afternoon games: 1:15 PM UAE, which is 9:15 AM UK, 2:15 PM PKT, 2:45 PM IST and 4:15 AM ET.

The Story: A Bigger Stage for Emerging Teams

The Emerging Nations Trophy was created by the ICC to give developing women's teams more competitive cricket. The first edition, in Thailand in 2025, was so close that four teams finished level on points, and Thailand took the title on net run rate (a measure of how quickly a team scores its runs compared with its opponents).

This year the ICC has expanded the event to ten teams and invited five Full Members, giving the Associate nations the chance to test themselves against stronger opposition.

For readers new to cricket: these are T20 matches, so each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), and games last about three and a half hours.

Storylines to Watch

Can Thailand defend their title? Thailand are in Group B with Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe, the tougher-looking of the two groups on paper.

Pakistan without Fatima Sana. Pakistan's regular captain Fatima Sana is playing in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia, so wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui leads the side, with Ayesha Zafar as vice-captain.

The Netherlands bring their World Cup side. The Dutch squad is largely the one that played at this year's Women's T20 World Cup, led by Babette de Leede.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh on day one. The first afternoon brings a South Asian clash between two Full Members in Group B.

Format Explained

In the fixture list, A1 means the team that finishes first in Group A, B2 the team that finishes second in Group B, and so on.

The Groups

Full Schedule and Match Times

📥 Download the full schedule as a PDF (one page)

Group Stage

Super Six and Final

All matches in Ajman, UAE. "Karwan" is the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground and "Seven Districts" is the Seven Districts Sports Club. GST is Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4). PKT is Pakistan Time (UTC+5). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30), which is also Sri Lanka's time. For Bangladesh, add 30 minutes to IST. ET is US Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5): morning games start at midnight ET at the start of the listed date. There are no matches on November 14, 17, 19, 21 and 24.

Squads

Pakistan

Sadaf Shamas and Waheeda Akhtar have been recalled. Fatima Sana is unavailable because she is playing in the WBBL.

Netherlands

Other teams: squads to be confirmed. We will add them once announced.

Players to Watch

Pakistan

• Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (c, wk): An experienced wicketkeeper-batter who has captained Pakistan before, in four T20Is and one ODI. She leads the side with Fatima Sana away at the WBBL.
• Nashra Sundhu: Leads Pakistan's spin attack, alongside Momina Riasat, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.
• Gull Feroza (wk): Named the best wicketkeeper-batter at Pakistan's recent National Women's T20 Tournament.
• Tasmia Rubab and Waheeda Akhtar: Pakistan's frontline fast bowlers. Akhtar has been recalled.

Netherlands

• Babette de Leede (c): Made 50 off 45 balls against Bangladesh in the Netherlands' first-ever Women's T20 World Cup match in June. The two sides meet again in Group B on November 16.

Thailand (defending champions)

Thailand's squad has not been named yet, but these players starred when they won the title in 2025:

• Thipatcha Putthawong: Bowler of the Tournament, with 15 wickets at an average of just 5.33.
• Suleeporn Laomi: A spinner who took 12 wickets.
• Natthakan Chantham: A batter who made 160 runs, the fifth-most in the tournament.

UAE and Scotland

Their squads are also still to be named, but two players stood out in 2025:

• Esha Oza (UAE): Player of the Tournament in 2025, with 187 runs and seven wickets.
• Olivia Bell (Scotland): A spinner who took eight wickets, including five against Thailand on the final day.

Players from teams that have not yet named squads are not confirmed for Ajman.

What's Next

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 start?

• Thursday, November 12, 2026, with Sri Lanka vs Ireland and Papua New Guinea vs Scotland at 9:00 AM UAE time.

Where is it being played?

• In Ajman, UAE, at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground and the Seven Districts Sports Club.

When is the final?

• Wednesday, November 25, at 9:00 AM UAE time (10:00 AM PKT, 10:30 AM IST) at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground.

Who won the first Emerging Nations Trophy?

• Thailand, at home in 2025, on net run rate.

Which Full Members are playing?

• Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe, all for the first time.

When do Pakistan play?

• Group games against Bangladesh (Nov 12), Thailand (Nov 13), the Netherlands (Nov 15) and Zimbabwe (Nov 16).

Who is captaining Pakistan?

• Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, with Fatima Sana away at the WBBL.

Can I download the schedule?

• Yes. The one-page PDF is linked at the top of the schedule section.

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