Australia's Women's Cricket Team Gets Busy in 2025-2029, ICC Unveils Ambitious Women's Future Tours Programme

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced an extensive Future Tours Programme (FTP) for women's cricket from 2025-2029, with 11 teams set to compete in over 400 matches across various formats. The programme promises to be a game-changer for women's cricket, with the addition of Zimbabwe as the 11th team in the ICC Women's Championship, which will see an increase in participating teams from 10.

The FTP includes the 4th edition of the ICC Women's Championship, which will feature 12 teams competing in 132 ODIs across 44 series. The championship will provide a qualification pathway to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2029. A new multi-team tournament, the ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy, will make its debut in 2027, featuring six teams from around the world. The 2025-2029 FTP also includes the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, and the 2028 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Australia's women's cricket team is set to benefit from the FTP, playing eight home Tests in the next four years, including a historic first Test match in South Africa in 2027. The team will also tour the West Indies and play a multi-format series against India. The team will enjoy a busy schedule, with multiple touring and home series, including a standalone women's Ashes series and a tour of the West Indies. The international calendar has been designed to maximize player earnings and availability, taking into account competing franchises and competitions such as the Hundred and The Big Bash League.

The Women's Premier League, set to start in January 2026, will see Australia's marquee home series shifted from late January to February-March, while the WBBL will retain its November window, allowing top players to participate. The FTP also includes tri-series tournaments ahead of ICC events, such as the upcoming tournament featuring England, India, and New Zealand. The increased number of Test matches will see Australia, England, India, South Africa, and the West Indies commit to multi-format series.

The ambitious FTP is a significant step forward for women's cricket, providing a robust international calendar that will showcase the talents of female cricketers from around the world. With the addition of Zimbabwe, the tournament will be more competitive, and the opportunity for women's cricket to grow globally.