Fiji Hosts Biggest-Ever Women’s Cricket Tournament in East-Asia Pacific Region

Suva, Sept 8 – Women’s cricket in the East-Asia Pacific region is set for a major milestone as Fiji hosts the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 EAP Qualifier, starting Tuesday at Albert Park.

Eight countries will compete in the region’s largest women’s cricket tournament to date, all fighting for one spot at the Global Qualifier in Nepal in January 2026.

The participating teams are:
Fiji, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, and Vanuatu.

This tournament is especially historic for the Philippines, whose women’s team will be playing in an ICC event for the first time ever.

The opening matches will feature Fiji vs. Cook Islands and Japan vs. Papua New Guinea, with games played across two grounds at Albert Park. The final is set for September 15, and the winner will move on to the next round of global qualifiers.

Vanuatu, a standout in the 2024 qualifiers with a famous win over Zimbabwe, is once again seen as a strong contender. Their captain, Rachel Andrew, said the team is excited and ready to perform.

“Our squad has a good mix of experienced players and fresh young talent. We’re motivated to build on our past success and aim for the Global Qualifier again,” she said.

The teams are divided into two groups:

• Group A: Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa

• Group B: Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu

All matches will be live-streamed on ICC.tv, and fans can follow live scores and updates on the ICC website.

This event not only highlights the growth of women’s cricket in the region but also provides a global stage for rising teams to make their mark.