Dubai, 21 October 2026: Two-time defending champions India will begin their ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 campaign against the West Indies at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on 22 January.
The International Cricket Council released the schedule on Wednesday. Sixteen teams will play 41 matches in Bangladesh and Nepal between 21 January and 6 February.
India in Group A with hosts Nepal
India are in Group A with Ireland, the West Indies and co-hosts Nepal. Nepal play Ireland earlier on the same day as India’s opener.
- Group A: India, Ireland, West Indies, Nepal
- Group B: South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa
- Group C: Australia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates
- Group D: England, Sri Lanka, United States of America, Scotland
Four venues in three cities
This is the third edition of the tournament. Matches will be played at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chattogram, the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, and the TU International Cricket Stadium and Upper Mulpani International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu.
Morning matches start at 09:30 local time and afternoon matches at 13:30. That is 09:00 and 13:00 IST in Bangladesh, and 09:15 and 13:15 IST in Kathmandu.
Opening day and knockouts
The tournament opens on 21 January with four matches. Bangladesh play the UAE in the morning in Sylhet, followed by Australia, runners-up at the last edition, against Nigeria. In Kathmandu, Sri Lanka meet Scotland at Upper Mulpani before England take on the USA.
On 22 January, New Zealand face Samoa and South Africa play Pakistan in Chattogram.
The group stage ends on 26 January. The qualifiers move into a Super Six stage of two groups, and the top two in each group reach the semi-finals.
Both semi-finals are on 4 February in Chattogram, with 5 February as a reserve day. The final is on 6 February at 13:30 local time, with 7 February kept in reserve.
‘Future of our sport’
ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said: “The ICC U19 World Cup is the stage that showcases the future of our sport and serves as the ultimate platform for young players to make the leap towards elite careers representing their countries.”
On the choice of hosts, he said: “With deep passion for cricket and nearly 40% of the two countries’ populations below the age of 20, they serve as the ideal hosts for one of the world’s biggest youth sporting events.”
India’s senior women’s side has just completed a 3-0 T20I series win over Zimbabwe.
