Historic first for Leeds venue as T20 World Cup schedule revealed

They will do so in Leeds on June 20, one of five games at Headingley in the women’s T20 World Cup, the schedule for which was announced on Tuesday.

Headingley will also host the matches between Australia and Bangladesh and the Netherlands against India (both June 17), West Indies against Scotland (June 18) and Australia versus Pakistan (June 23).

Rachel Slater, the Yorkshire and Scotland left-arm swing bowler, said she was relishing the clash between the old enemies.

“To have that at Headingley, the ground where I’ve grown up watching cricket and am now playing, will be really special,” she said.

“I think this will be a moment which will be pretty hard to top. You always look back and remember the experiences and the moments, and this will be amazing.”

Slater, 24, was part of a Scotland side that won through to the 12-strong World Cup as one of four qualifiers alongside Bangladesh, Netherlands and Ireland, with the qualifying event recently concluding in Nepal.

Netherlands, for whom the Yorkshire batter Sterre Kalis plays, are making their first appearance at the T20 World Cup. The 26-year-old is equally excited at the prospect of playing at Headingley, when the Dutch face India.

“I’m buzzing to play at my home ground in Headingley,” she said.

“We’re hoping to see a sea of orange in the stands with our families, friends, fans and everyone who has supported Dutch women’s cricket over the years.”

The World Cup runs from June 12 to July 5 and features 33 games at seven grounds, the others being Bristol, Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Lord’s, Southampton and The Oval.

Australia, Bangladesh, India, Netherlands, Pakistan and South Africa are in Group 1, with England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and West Indies in Group 2.

Teams play against each side in their group, with the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals, which will be played at The Oval. The final takes place at Lord’s.

Beth Barrett-Wild, tournament director, said: “This women’s T20 World Cup will bring world-class athletes, elite performances and unforgettable moments to fans across England and Wales.

“With high-quality cricket at its core, the tournament promises to be an unmissable sporting spectacle that captures hearts and minds and takes women’s cricket firmly into the mainstream.”

Sanjog Gupta, chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), said: “Venues across England and Wales will serve as a wonderful stage for high-quality competitive cricket, unforgettable memories and unifying cultural experiences that define global events.

“We are confident that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be the next defining chapter in the accelerated growth of women’s cricket worldwide.”