Today, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the fixtures for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier. The women’s tournament will take place from 9 to 15 September in Suva, Fiji, while the men’s event will be held from 8 to 17 October in Al Amerat, Oman.
Hosts Fiji and Oman will welcome participating teams including Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Samoa, the Cook Islands, the Philippines, and Vanuatu; for two crucial ICC events forming an integral part of the qualification pathway to the respective World Cups.
In the women’s qualifier, teams will be split into two groups of four. The winners of the semi-finals and the final will progress to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. Notably, the Philippines will be participating in an ICC Women’s Pathway Event for the first time.
Cricket Fiji chief executive Sitiveni Rokoro said: “We are proud to host our first ICC Women’s pathway event here in Suva, Fiji. This marks a major achievement for us, not only as our inaugural women’s event at this level, but also as the largest ICC Qualifier ever held in the East Asia-Pacific region, with the participation of eight nations. We are especially excited to welcome all participating teams and extend a warm “Bula vinaka” to each one of them. A special acknowledgment goes to the Philippines women’s team, who will be making their debut in an ICC pathway event. This tournament stands as a testament to the growth, inclusivity and regional collaboration that continues to drive the advancement of women’s cricket across the East Asia-Pacific. We are deeply grateful to the ICC and the EAP Regional Team for their continued support and commitment in helping us bring this event to life.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier: All matches will be live on ICC.tv and take place at Albert Park, Suva, starting at 9:30 (AM) and 1:30 (PM) local time.
Three World Cup slots are up for grabs in the combined ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, which will begin in Oman on 8 October. Over the course of the 10-day event, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and the hosts will compete against sub-regional qualifiers from 2024: Kuwait, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Japan, and Samoa.
The tournament will be conducted in two stages: a Group Stage from 8 to 10 October, followed by a Super Six Stage from 12 to 17 October. The top two teams from each of the three groups—each comprising three teams—will advance to the Super Six round. The top three teams from this stage will qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka, featuring some of the biggest names in international cricket.
Oman Cricket treasurer Alkesh Joshi said: “As a board, we are fully committed to providing our players with world-class preparation platforms. We also want this tournament to be a celebration for fans, that’s why entry to all matches at Amerat will be free. We invite the community to turn out in their numbers and cheer for the team. We sincerely thank the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for their unwavering support in Oman’s cricketing journey. Hosting major ICC events elevates Oman’s status in the global sporting arena. This tournament is a celebration of associate cricket. Hosting it in Oman proves we are not just participants but contributors to the growth of global cricket.”
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier: All matches will be live on ICC.tv and take place at the Oman Cricket Academy in Al Amerat.
