The inaugural edition of the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup will take place in South Africa from January 2023. As many as 16 teams will compete in the tournament, which will start on January 14 and comprise 41 matches in all. It will be followed by the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023, which also begins in South Africa on February 9.

Also Read: India's performance in every ICC tournament

Eleven Full-Member nations gained automatic entry to the inaugural edition of the U19 Women's T20 World Cup. They are Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe.

The remaining five spots were filled by one team from each of the ICC's five regions, through regional Qualifier tournaments, which had begun in June this year.

Teams that came through the Qualifiers

As many as 19 teams participated in the regional qualifiers across Asia, Europe, East Asia-Pacific (EAP), and Africa.

Asia Qualifier: Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, Qatar, UAE (Q)

Africa Qualifier: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda (Q), Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda

Europe Qualifier: Netherlands, Scotland (Q)

EAP Qualifier: Indonesia (Q), PNG

USA gained the fifth spot being the only Associate nation eligible to compete under ICC's Event Pathway Participation Criteria in the Americas region.

UAE was the first to qualify after they won the Asia Qualifier in Malaysia with a six-wicket victory over Thailand. The two teams had beaten all others to reach the final, where UAE emerged triumphant.

In the EAP qualifier, Indonesia surprised PNG with a 2-1 series victory to qualify for the main tournament.

Scotland beat the Netherlands in back-to-back matches to book their spot in the Europe Qualifier.

In the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2022, Rwanda defeated Tanzania by six wickets in the final to clinch their spot for the first time at an ICC World Cup tournament at any level.

Read Also: Women's T20 World Cup 2023: Bangladesh and Ireland qualify for the tournament

The format of the tournament

The 16 teams are divided into four groups as follows:

Group A: 
Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the USA

Group B: 
England, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe

Group C: 
Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand, and West Indies

Group D:
India, Scotland, South Africa, and the UAE

The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six round, where teams will be pooled into two groups of six. Group 1 will comprise three teams each from Groups A and D, while Group 2 will have three teams each from Groups B and C. 

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will both be played on 27 January at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom. 

The final will take place at the same venue on 29 January. 

Scoring a century in any form of cricket is a moment of glory, but in the fast-paced format of T20s, it gets more exciting to watch. Numerous cricketers have consistently proved themselves in this format by delivering spectacular tons.

The list goes deep as we have such power-hitters from around the globe!

Join us as we explore the list of players with most centuries in WT20Is and celebrate their glorious innings.

1. Esha Oza (4 centuries) | UAE

The current captain of UAE, Esha Oza, holds the record for most centuries in WT20Is with 4 centuries in her T20 career so far. This Indian-born cricketer made her debut in T20Is in 2018 and reached this milestone extremely fast.

She is also the fastest player from UAE to reach 1000 runs in T20Is. Her fourth century in T20Is came against Qatar in the Asia Cup qualifier, where she led her team to a brilliant victory.

Read Also: Top 10 fastest centuries in Women's T20Is

Esha Oza stats in WT20Is

2. Chamari Athapaththu (3 centuries) | Sri Lanka

Chamari Athapaththu, the current captain of Sri Lanka national team, holds the 2nd position in this list with her 3 centuries in WT20Is. She is one of the finest cricketers from Sri Lanka and led them to win the 2024 Asia Cup.

Chamari scored her first hundred in T20Is in 2019 against Australia. She scored the other following centuries in 2024 against Scotland and Malaysia.

Read Also: England or Australia? Which team has won more Women's Ashes?

Chamari Athapaththu stats in WT20Is

3. Fatuma Kibasu (3 centuries) | Tanzania 

The former captain of Tanzania, Fatuma Kibasu, holds the 3rd position with her 3 centuries in WT20Is. She is the only Tanzanian woman to score a century at international level so far, and holds the highest individual score for her country in WT20Is.

Fatuma made her T20 debut in 2019 and played magnificently ever since!

Fatuma Kibasu stats in WT20Is

Read Also: Most WT20I runs in a calendar year

Other players with 2 centuries in WT20Is 

Here's a list of players who scored 2 centuries in WT20Is and comes in the list following the TOP 3.

After the Champions Trophy 2025, India's target in ODI cricket will be the ODI World Cup 2027. In such a situation, know what is Team India's ODI schedule till the World Cup 2027. The Men in Blue have to play a total of 9 series in the next ICC ODI tournament, which includes 27 matches.

Apart from this, some more ODI matches can be scheduled near the tournament. So, know what is the ODI schedule of Indian Cricket Team till 2027 and when India will face which team.

Also Read: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

The ODI World Cup2027 will be held around October to December. Before this, the Indian team is going to play a lot of matches. India have to play 3-match ODI series against 8 teams. They will play series twice against one country.

India will play New Zealand twice

India will play Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka once each in the upcoming ODI series, while it will play New Zealand twice. Out of the nine series, India will play six series at home, while the rest will be held outside the country.

It will start with the tour of Bangladesh in August, which will be played this year. In October-November 2025, India has to play a three-match ODI series on its tour of Australia. South Africa's team will tour India in November-December.

India will host Sri Lankan team in December 2026

In January 2026, the New Zealand team will play an ODI series in India. After this, India has to play a three-match series against Afghanistan in June. In July 2026, Team India will have to play the same number of ODI series on its tour of England.

The West Indies team is scheduled to tour India in September-October. There will be an ODI series against New Zealand at home in October-November. India will host the Sri Lankan team for an ODI series in December 2026.

Also Read: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

India's ODI schedule till World Cup 2027

The ICC has officially announced that the Final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on 5th July. The news was shared during a special launch event at Lord’s on 1st May.

Alongside this major reveal, it was confirmed that the matches will also be played at other popular venues across England, including Edgbaston, the Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval, and the Bristol County Ground.

The tournament is set to kick off on 12th June and will run for 24 days, featuring a total of 33 matches leading up to the highly anticipated final at Lord’s. The complete match schedule is expected to be released soon.

Featuring a record 12 teams, the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be the biggest edition in the tournament’s history. With two more teams than the previous edition, fans can expect fierce competition as the world’s top sides battle it out for the title.

Read Also | Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

Qualified Teams for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Four additional teams will join them through the Qualifier scheduled next year.

The 12 teams will be split into two groups of six for the group stage, followed by the knockout rounds and finals.

Official Statement

ICC Chairman Jay Shah opened up about the tournament, saying, "The confirmation of venues represents a defining moment as we build towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026"

"The sell-out Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017 remains a landmark in the rise of the women’s game, and I cannot think of a more fitting stage for the final."

"As we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we are excited by the promise of thrilling T20 action that will not only captivate fans here but also serve as a showcase for cricket’s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028."

Legacy

Moving on from the most recent edition, hosted by Bangladesh in the UAE in 2024, saw New Zealand claim their first-ever title, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in the final.

The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup will mark the milestone 10th edition of the tournament, which began in 2009.

Centuries in T20Is are a treat to watch. Over the years, some incredible cricketing talents across the globe have set the bar high with their records. This article celebrates the art of power-hitting by logging the top 10 fastest centuries in Women's cricket.

Check out the Top 10s that left the fans and bowlers amazed in the competitive T20 format.

10. Hayley Matthews | (53 balls) vs Australia, 2023

The West Indies captain Hayley Matthews scored a crucial ton in their record-breaking run chase against Australia. She is known for excelling in the T20 format. They succeeded in defeating Australia on their home soil with the help of this knock in 2023.

Matthews has scored 2 centuries in T20Is so far. It took her only 53 balls for this, which makes it one of the fastest centuries in Women's cricket.

9. Meg Lanning | (53 balls) vs Ireland, 2014

Meg Lanning, the former Australian captain, holds the ninth position with her timeless century against Ireland in the Women's T20 World Cup, 2014. Lanning is one of the finest cricketers of all time, with seven World Cup titles under her name.

She scored 125 runs off 65 balls in this innings and was also the top run-scorer of the tournament.

Also Read: Most matches as captain in Women's T20I history: Harmanpreet Kaur tops the chart

8. Rubina Chhetry | (52 balls) vs Maldives, 2024

The former captain of the Nepal Women's Team, Rubina Chhetry, scored a record-breaking century in a match of ACC Women's Premier Cup against Maldives in 2024. She hit 10 fours and 5 sixes, leading the team to a total of 227 runs on the board. 

Her century off 52 balls paved the way to achieve one of the highest totals of Women's T20Is by an Asian country.

7. Danni Wyatt-Hodge | (52 balls) vs India, 2018

The attacking opener of England Women's Team, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, scored a magnificent century from just 52 balls against India in 2018. She’s widely known for her composed batting style in this format, providing a headstart to the team.

Wyatt helped England reach the milestone of one of the highest successful run chases in the history of Women's T20Is with her vital knock.

Also Read: The Greatest T20I Records That Will Stand the Test of Time

6. Meg Lanning | (51 balls) vs England, 2019

This is yet another ton from the Australian legend that became one of the fastest centuries in women's cricket, making her appear on the list twice. She took 53 balls to score the century, and was also unbeaten in the inning.

Lanning also holds the record for most centuries in Women's ODIs, which says a lot about her exceptional abilities.

5. Fargana Hoque | (51 balls) vs Maldives, 2019

Fargana Hoque, the right-handed Bangladeshi batter scored her maiden T20 century off 51 balls in 2019, which was fastest in a lot. With this remarkable century against Maldives, Hoque became the second woman from Bangladesh to score a T20 century.

4. Harmanpreet Kaur | (49 balls) vs New Zealand, 2018

Harmanpreet Kaur, the current Indian captain, secured the fourth position with her maiden T20 century in 2018. She scored this off just 49 balls during the ICC Women's World T20, against New Zealand.

Kaur showcased some fearless cricketing class and became the first Indian woman to score a century in a T20 International.

Read Also: Harmanpreet Kaur in T20 Women's World Cup: A Name for Milestones and Challenges

3. Tamsin Beaumont | (47 balls) vs South Africa, 2018

Tamsin Beaumont, the right-handed English batter, scored an impressive century off 47 balls against South Africa in 2018. She is known for her ability to score runs in all cricketing formats and noteworthy fielding.

2. Alyssa Healy | (46 balls) vs Sri Lanka, 2019

The current Australian captain, Alyssa Healy, scored her maiden T20 century off 46 balls against Sri Lanka in 2019. In this inning, she played a spectacular knock of 148* from 61 balls, which is the highest individual score in women's T20Is by an Australian. 

This performance brings her to the second position in the table of fastest centuries in Women's cricket of all time.

1. Deandra Dottin | (38 balls) vs South Africa, 2010

As we come down to the final name, Deandra Dottin’s extraordinary century off 38 balls is the long-standing record that has remained in the no. 1 rank for over a decade. This West Indies all-rounder scored her groundbreaking maiden century against South Africa in 2010.

Dottin is the first woman to score a century in the history of T20 cricket. She is widely recognised for her explosive batting power and has set an unforgettable benchmark worldwide. 

Also Read: Top Female Cricketers Who Are Making History

Indian team's star batsman Virat Kohli scored a brilliant half-century in the match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. The former captain, who is in great form, became the first Indian to score 100 half-centuries in T20 cricket. 

The Indian stalwart entered the exclusive club, which solely featured David Warner as its sole member. The former Australia star boasts a staggering 108 half-centuries in the T20 format.

Also Read: Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

Let's take a look at the batters with most gifties in T20 cricket.

Most Fifties in T20 Cricket

5. Jos Buttler | 86

The England batter Jos Buttler has a fantastic record in the shortest format and has featured in franchise cricket all around the world. Buttler is a part of the Gujarat Titans side in the ongoing IPL season. He has so far played 440 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a total of 12,331 runs with 8 hundreds and the highest individual score of 124.

4. Chris Gayle | 88

The explosive West Indies batter Chris Gayle has played franchise cricket all around the world and has also featured a lot for the national side in the shortest format. Gayle has played 463 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a total of 14,562 runs with 22 centuries and the highest individual score 175*.

3. Babar Azam | 90

The Pakistan batter has not only played a lot of T20 cricket for the national side, but has also featured a lot in franchise cricket. Babar has so far played 311 matches in the format, scoring a total of 11,042 runs with 11 hundreds and the highest individual score of 122.

2. Virat Kohli | 100*

The India star batter Virat Kohli scored his 100th half-century in T20 cricket during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's clash against the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Kohli has so far played 405 matches in the format, scoring a total of 13,134 runs with 9 centuries and the highest individual score of 122*.

Also Read: Most Fifties (and over) in IPL History

1. David Warner | 108

The former Australia batter David Warner has played a total of 400 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a massive 12,925 runs. Along with a humongous number of half-centuries, Warner also has 8 centuries under his name in the format with the highest individual score of 135*.