Rwanda Cricket to host inaugural edition of ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy in 2026

Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) have been given the hosting rights for the inaugural edition of ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy from April 18th – May 02nd, 2026, which is part of a new three (3)-tier development pathway designed to offer high-performance exposure to emerging nations. As part of the pathway, Cricket Association of Thailand (CAT) have already hosted the inaugural edition of ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in November 2025, with the second (2nd) edition to take place later this year.

The Challenge trophy will feature the top team from the five ICC development regions – Africa, Americas, Asia, East Asia Pacific and Europe – who are not part of the Emerging Nations Trophy, identified through their regional qualifying events (the just concluded regional Qualifiers towards 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup). The teams competing based on the criteria and positioning of teams in Emerging Nations, Challenge Trophy participants will be United States of America (USA) from the Americas Qualifier, Nepal from Asia Qualifier, Italy from European Qualifier, Vanuatu from East Asia-Pacific Qualifier and host’s Rwanda from the Africa Qualifier.

All the matches in the first (1st) of the two (2) rounds in the competition will be first-ever meeting in T20Is for the first time between both the Teams featuring in the match. Such scenarios are now possible due to the initiative taken by ICC to provide these teams with more competitive games, against opponents from different regions.

ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy Schedule

Italy: Emilia Bartram, Alexia Kontopirakis, Dilisha Fernando, Emma Moore, Himanshi Akarsha Patabendige, Ilenia Janet Sims, Ishara Upeka Jayamanage, Kumudu Peddrick, Methnara Rathnayake Mudiyanselage, Pasindi Sewmini Kanankege, Sadalee Vasana Liyanage, Sonia Toffoletto, Tharushi Amaya Mudiyanselage and Thilini Chathurika Fernando

United States of America: Aditiba Chudasama, Ritu Singh, Sainavi Kambalapalli, Gargi Bhogle, Nikhar Doshi, Isani Vaghela, Pooja Ganesh, Jivana Aras, Maahi Madhavan, Lekha Shetty, Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, Taranum Chopra, Aparna Gurumurthy and Suhani Thadani

18th – 19th April 2026: Rwanda vs Italy (Scorecard) ; USA vs Nepal (Scorecard) ; Vanuatu vs Rwanda (Scorecard) ; Nepal vs Italy (Scorecard)

21st – 22nd April 2026: Rwanda vs USA (Scorecard) ; Italy vs Vanuatu (Scorecard) ; Nepal vs Rwanda (Scorecard) ; Vanuatu vs USA (Scorecard)

24th – 25th April 2026: Nepal vs Vanuatu (Scorecard) ; USA vs Italy (Scorecard) ; Vanuatu vs Rwanda (Scorecard) ; Nepal vs USA (Scorecard)

 27th – 28th April 2026: Rwanda vs Italy (Scorecard) ; USA vs Vanuatu (Scorecard) ; Nepal vs Rwanda (Scorecard) ; Italy vs Vanuatu (Scorecard)

30th April – 01st May 2026: USA vs Italy (Scorecard) ; Vanuatu vs Nepal (Scorecard) ; Rwanda vs USA (Scorecard) ; Italy vs Nepal (Scorecard)