ICC Women's T20 World Cup

The inaugural ICC Women's T20 World Cup was held in 2009 in England. The tournament was hosted alongside the men's competition and saw England defeat New Zealand in the final at Lord's Cricket Ground. This historic event marked the beginning of a major international championship for women's cricket.

Australia leads with six championship titles (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), demonstrating remarkable consistency and dominance in women's T20 cricket. Their success is attributed to strong grassroots development, professional pathways, and significant investment in women's cricket infrastructure and coaching.

Prize money has increased dramatically from $1.4M total prize pool in 2014 to $7.2M in 2024 - a 414% increase. The winning team now receives $2.4M, up from $475K a decade ago. This growth reflects increasing commercial value and the ICC's commitment to gender equality in cricket.

The current format features 16 teams competing in the tournament. Teams qualify through regional competitions and ICC rankings. The expansion from 10 teams in early editions to 16 teams reflects the global growth of women's cricket and increased competitive depth across multiple regions.

The tournament has catalyzed massive growth in women's cricket participation, with over 340% increase in registered players globally since 2016. It has driven infrastructure development, secured major broadcasting deals reaching 350M+ viewers, and established professional pathways for female cricketers worldwide. Many nations have implemented domestic professional leagues as a direct result of World Cup exposure.

Matches are broadcast globally across 200+ territories through partnerships with major sports networks and streaming platforms. Coverage includes traditional television broadcasters, digital streaming services, and the ICC's official platforms. Many matches are available free-to-air in cricket-playing nations to maximize accessibility.

The tournament features a group stage followed by knockout rounds. Sixteen teams are divided into groups, with top performers advancing to semi-finals. All matches are Twenty20 format (20 overs per side), designed for fast-paced, exciting cricket. The tournament typically spans 2-3 weeks with 45 total matches.

Bangladesh, Thailand, and Ireland have shown remarkable progress in recent tournaments. Bangladesh has developed strong domestic infrastructure, Thailand qualified for their first World Cup in 2020, and Ireland has consistently improved their international rankings. African nations like Zimbabwe and Uganda are also investing heavily in women's cricket development.

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup has achieved near prize money parity with men's tournaments, secured equal broadcasting treatment, and generated comparable sponsorship deals. The tournament demonstrates that women's cricket can attract major audiences and commercial investment, setting benchmarks for gender equality across global sports.

The ICC rotates hosting rights to ensure global representation and cricket development. Future tournaments are planned for diverse locations including Bangladesh (2026), England (2028), and potentially new cricket markets in the Americas and Europe. Host selection considers infrastructure, commercial viability, and cricket development opportunities.