Sri Lanka and Scotland opened with wins as the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 began in Ajman on November 12. Ten teams are competing in the UAE, with the final scheduled for November 25 and FanCode carrying the tournament in India.
Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 10 wickets, while Scotland defeated Papua New Guinea by seven wickets. The points snapshot below covers those two completed morning matches, keeping them separate from the afternoon fixtures.
Key Highlights
- Ten teams feature, up from eight in 2025.
- India is not participating.
- Six teams progress beyond the group stage.
- The final starts at 10:30 am IST on November 25.
Teams, Groups and Players to Follow
Five Full Members have joined five Associate sides. The ICC’s tournament announcement confirms the expanded field and these groups:
- Group A: Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates.
- Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand and Zimbabwe.
The name “Emerging Nations” does not mean every participant is an Associate nation. Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are Full Members; the competition brings them together with teams seeking more regular international opposition.
Thailand arrive as defending champions. Their first ICC trophy came at home in 2025, when four teams finished level on points and net run rate settled the title.
The official squad lists ICC name Harshitha Samarawickrama as Sri Lanka’s captain and Kathryn Bryce as Scotland’s. ICC also introduced the 10 contenders on Instagram ahead of the opening matches.
Fixtures and Match Timings in IST
Two grounds share the tournament: Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground and Seven Districts Sports Club, both in Ajman. The ICC’s published schedule uses UAE local time; the table converts it to IST, which is 90 minutes ahead.
| November Date | 10:30am IST | 2:45 pm IST |
| 12 | Sri Lanka vs Ireland; PNG vs Scotland | Pakistan vs Bangladesh; Netherlands vs Thailand |
| 13 | Scotland vs Sri Lanka; UAE vs Ireland | Thailand vs Pakistan; Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh |
| 15 | Thailand vs Zimbabwe; Pakistan vs Netherlands | Scotland vs UAE; Sri Lanka vs PNG |
| 16 | Bangladesh vs Netherlands; Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Ireland vs PNG; UAE vs Sri Lanka |
| 18 | PNG vs UAE; Ireland vs Scotland | Netherlands vs Zimbabwe; Bangladesh vs Thailand |
PNG means Papua New Guinea. Each time slot contains two simultaneous matches, so viewers following several teams will need to choose between grounds.
After November 18, the format changes:
- Super Six: November 20, 22 and 23, with the top three from each group advancing.
- Opponents: Each qualifier meets the three qualifying teams from the other group.
- Final: The leading two Super Six teams meet at Karwan on November 25, at 10:30 am IST.
There are no semi-finals in the announced format. Finishing third in the opening group keeps a team in contention; reaching the final requires a top-two Super Six finish.
Points Table After the Opening Morning Matches
Group A Snapshot on November 12
The Sri Lanka–Ireland scorecard records Ireland’s 105/9 and Sri Lanka’s 110/0 in 13 overs. Sathya Sandeepani took 3/9 before both Sri Lankan openers made unbeaten half-centuries.
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3.212 |
| Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2.565 |
| UAE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | −2.565 |
| Ireland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | −3.212 |
Scotland’s seven-wicket victory over PNG featured Katherine Fraser’s 3/10 and 45 runs. Scotland reached 95/3 in 13.1 overs after dismissing PNG for 93.
NRR figures are calculated from these completed scorecards. This snapshot excludes afternoon Group B matches; use the official standings for subsequent changes. Two points after one game do not establish qualification.
Where to Watch in India and Overseas
For Indian viewers, the ICC’s updated broadcast guide names FanCode. ICC.TV serves selected regions, rather than automatically providing the same access everywhere.
Pakistan’s listed outlets include Myco, Tamasha, PTV and Geo Super. Willow TV covers the United States and Canada. In the UK and Northern Ireland, Sky Sports carries the final, with other matches available on ICC.TV.
The country-specific listing takes priority over a general ICC.TV promotion. Indian fans should look for the tournament on FanCode before match time.
FAQs
Is this an under-19 tournament?
No. The ICC lists the competition in the T20I format, with national women’s squads. It is separate from the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup and its qualification events.
How many group matches does each team play?
A five-team group gives each side four opponents. The published schedule therefore provides four group matches per team before the top three enter the Super Six phase.
Will Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the group stage?
Pakistan and Sri Lanka belong to different groups, so no group fixture pairs them. They would meet in the Super Six if both qualify from their respective groups.
Are November 14 and 17 match days?
Neither date appears in the announced group-stage schedule. Matches fall on November 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18, before the Super Six begins on November 20.
Does every country receive the same ICC.TV coverage?
Coverage varies by territory. ICC.TV operates in selected regions, while separate broadcasters or streaming services hold listed coverage elsewhere, including FanCode for viewers watching from India.
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