The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier 2025, marking an exciting phase on the road to the Women’s T20 World Cup. This landmark event will take place from 9 to 15 September 2025 at Albert Park in Suva, Fiji, and will feature the largest-ever field of eight competing nations in the EAP region.
A Landmark Event in East Asia-Pacific
Fiji is all set to host its first-ever ICC Women’s Pathway event, a historic achievement for the nation and the region. The tournament will bring together:
- Fiji (hosts)
- Vanuatu
- Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Samoa
- Cook Islands
- Philippines (making their ICC Women’s pathway debut)
The eight teams will be split into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The winner of the tournament will secure a coveted place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.
Significance and Local Impact
Sitiveni Rokoro, Chief Executive of Cricket Fiji, stated:
“We are proud to host our first ICC Women’s pathway event here in Suva, Fiji. This is not just an achievement for us locally, but for the entire East Asia-Pacific region. We extend a warm ‘Bula vinaka’ to all teams, especially the Philippines making their debut.”
Rokoro emphasized that the event showcases the growing inclusivity and development of women’s cricket in the region, crediting the ICC and the EAP Regional Team for their support.
Full Match Schedule (Albert Park, Suva)
| Date | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Match 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 9 Sept | Fiji vs Cook Islands | PNG vs Japan | Indonesia vs Vanuatu | Samoa vs Philippines |
| Wed, 10 Sept | Japan vs Samoa | Fiji vs Indonesia | PNG vs Philippines | Cook Islands vs Vanuatu |
| Fri, 12 Sept | Cook Islands vs Indonesia | Philippines vs Japan | Fiji vs Vanuatu | Samoa vs PNG |
| Sat, 13 Sept | A3 vs B4 (SF3) | B3 vs A4 (SF4) | A1 vs B2 (SF1) | B1 vs A2 (SF2) |
| Mon, 15 Sept | Winner SF3 vs Winner SF4 | Loser SF3 vs Loser SF4 | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2 |
This qualifier is a crucial stepping stone for the teams in the East Asia-Pacific region, offering a direct route to the Global Qualifier, and from there, a chance to reach the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
With local crowds expected to rally behind the teams and the global spotlight shining on Suva, this tournament promises to deliver memorable cricketing moments, while empowering and uplifting women’s cricket across the region.
Quotes sourced from ICC’s official website.
