Victoria T20I Series Nears Kick-off as International Women's Cricket Prepares for Return
Uganda is set to host Namibia, Rwanda, and USA, while the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy also approaches.
The story
The international women's cricket calendar is currently in a brief lull, with no matches concluded in the last 24-72 hours. However, anticipation is building for upcoming tournaments, and recent ICC player rankings have seen significant movement.
Uganda is preparing to host the Victoria T20I Series, scheduled to begin on November 6, featuring Namibia, Rwanda, and USA. This tournament marks the return of international fixtures after a short break. Looking further ahead, the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy is also on the horizon, set to commence on November 12 in the UAE.
Amidst the quiet on the field, the ICC released its latest Women's ODI Player Rankings on November 3. India's 20-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma made a notable leap, climbing 53 places to 94th in the bowling rankings. This rise followed her impressive nine-wicket haul across the final two matches of India's 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe in the ICC Women's Championship series. Sharma's performance in the series finale, where she took 5/39, earned her the Player of the Match award. Other Indian players also saw gains, with spinner Sayali Satghare moving up 18 spots to 85th in the bowling rankings, and batters Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma advancing to 18th and joint 65th respectively in the ODI batting rankings.
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings | #1 Australia | Australia leads the ODI team rankings. |
| ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings | #1 Australia, #3 India | Australia holds the top spot, with India in third position. |
| ICC Women's T20I All-Rounder Rankings | #1 Hayley Matthews (WI), #2 Amelia Kerr (NZ) | Rankings as of October 2026, with Matthews narrowly ahead of Kerr. |
What we'll be watching
- The Women's Victoria T20I Series begins with Uganda Women vs Namibia Women on November 6 at Entebbe Cricket Oval.
- The second match of the Victoria T20I Series features Rwanda Women vs USA Women on November 6 at Entebbe Cricket Oval.
- The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 starts November 12 in Ajman, UAE.
- Sri Lanka Women will face Ireland Women in the opening match of the Emerging Nations Trophy on November 12 in Ajman.
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