The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially released the comprehensive schedule for the warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. This premier global event is set to kick off on June 12, 2026, in England and Wales. Before the main tournament begins, all participating nations will engage in a series of practice matches to fine-tune their skills and adapt to the local conditions. These warm-up fixtures are scheduled to take place from June 6 to June 10, 2026, featuring the world's top women's cricket teams. The ICC has confirmed that the matches will be hosted at three key venues: Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, the Derby County Ground, and Loughborough University. Notably, Loughborough University serves as the home to the ECB's National Cricket Performance Centre, offering elite facilities for the teams.
India's Warm-up Fixtures and Venue Details
The Indian women's cricket team is slated to play two crucial warm-up matches as part of their final preparations. According to the ICC announcement, India will first face the West Indies on June 8, 2026, at Cardiff. This will be followed by a high-profile encounter against the host nation, England, on June 10, 2026, also at the Cardiff venue. Both of India's matches are scheduled for the morning slot, starting at 10:00 AM local time. These fixtures are vital for the Indian side before they head into their opening World Cup match against arch-rivals Pakistan, while the ICC has organized these warm-up games in two distinct time slots: the morning session at 10:00 AM and the afternoon session at 03:00 PM local time, ensuring maximum exposure for all teams across the designated venues in England and Wales.
Historic Milestone in Ticket Sales
The anticipation for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 has reached unprecedented levels, as evidenced by the record-breaking ticket sales. 45 lakh tickets have already been sold, even though the tournament is still 30 days away from its commencement. This makes the 2026 edition the most successful in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup in terms of ticket demand. Remarkably, the current sales figures have already surpassed the total attendance of the entire 2020 Women's T20 World Cup, which recorded a total of 136,549 spectators. The opening match of the tournament, featuring England and Sri Lanka in Birmingham, is expected to draw a massive crowd, reflecting the global surge in the popularity of women's cricket.
Full Warm-up Match Schedule
The warm-up schedule is designed to provide every team with balanced match practice. On June 9, the action continues with Scotland taking on Pakistan and Ireland facing Bangladesh in the morning, followed by Netherlands vs Sri Lanka and South Africa vs New Zealand in the afternoon. The final day of warm-ups on June 10 will see India battling England in the morning session, while the West Indies will take on Australia in the afternoon at Cardiff. These matches will serve as the final litmus test for the squads before the official tournament opener between England and Sri Lanka in Birmingham. The ICC's strategic scheduling across Cardiff, Derby, and Loughborough ensures that all teams are well-prepared for the high-intensity matches that lie ahead in the main event.