NewKerala.com

Women's Cricket Expands: 10 Teams to Battle in 2029 ODI World Cup

The ICC has officially expanded the Women's ODI World Cup to include ten teams starting in 2029. This decision comes after the massive success of the 2025 tournament in India, which set new viewership records. The expansion aims to provide more opportunities for emerging cricket nations and strengthen the global women's game. The ICC also announced new committee appointments and provided updates on Project USA ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Key Points: ICC Expands Women's ODI World Cup to 10 Teams for 2029

  • Decision approved by ICC Board in Dubai meeting to strengthen global competition
  • Expansion follows record 446 million viewers during 2025 India tournament
  • Tournament attendance broke records with nearly 300,000 stadium spectators
  • New committee includes Mithali Raj, Charlotte Edwards, and other cricket legends
2 min read

ICC board confirms expanding next edition of Women's ODI World Cup to ten teams

ICC confirms Women's ODI World Cup expansion to 10 teams in 2029, building on record-breaking 2025 tournament viewership and global growth initiatives.

"The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of Women's Cricket - ICC Statement"

New Delhi, Nov 7

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the next edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup, to be held in 2029, will feature 10 teams, marking a significant step in the tournament’s expansion and global reach.

The decision, approved by the ICC Board in its meeting in Dubai on Friday, aims to provide greater opportunities for emerging nations and strengthen the competitive landscape of women’s cricket on the world stage.

It comes on the back of India winning the tournament at home, with its 52-run win over South Africa in the final watched by 185 million users on JioHotstar, thus equalling the viewership of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final and exceeding the average daily reach of the IPL. Overall, the tournament recorded a reach of 446 million, the highest ever for women’s cricket.

“The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of Women’s Cricket and heralded the success of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India as testament to its long-standing faith in the Women’s game. Nearly 300,000 fans watched the event in stadia, breaking the record for tournament attendance for any women’s Cricket event.”

“The tournament also witnessed viewership growth and new records being set for on-screen audiences across the world, with nearly 500 million viewers in India. The ICC board, keen to build on the success of the event, agreed to expand the next edition of the tournament to 10 teams (from 8 teams in 2025),” said the ICC in its statement.

The ICC Board also ratified the appointment of a number of members of the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee, namely Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley De Silva, India legendary batter Mithali Raj, India head coach Amol Muzumdar, New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer, England head coach Charlotte Edwards, and Samoa Cricket CEO Sala Stella Siale-Vaea.

The ICC also said it received its first update on ‘Project USA’, which was launched following the suspension of USA Cricket and in line with the ICC’s directive that the commercial and development interests of players in the US national teams should not be negatively impacted by the suspension of the board due to non-compliance.

“The project is focused on building an optimised runway to Cricket’s inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympic Games and enhancing performance pathways for the US national teams through ongoing participation in ICC Events,” it said.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great move by ICC! The women's World Cup final had more viewers than IPL matches - that's incredible. Hope this expansion brings more competitive cricket and new talents to the forefront.
M
Michael C
While expansion is good, I hope the quality doesn't suffer. Some associate nations might struggle to compete at this level. Need proper development programs alongside this decision.
A
Ananya R
So proud of our women's team! 🏆 The 2025 World Cup success has really pushed women's cricket forward. Having Mithali Raj on the committee is perfect - she understands the game so well.
S
Sarah B
This is wonderful news for global cricket! The inclusion of more teams will inspire young girls everywhere to take up the sport. The viewership numbers from India are truly remarkable.
V
Vikram M
️‍♀️ Excellent decision! Now we need to ensure proper funding and infrastructure for these emerging teams. Can't wait to see which new teams qualify for 2029 edition.
K
Kavya N
The 185 million viewers on Hotstar shows India's growing love for women's cricket. This expansion will make the sport more inclusive and competitive. Well done ICC! 👏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50