The Commonwealth Games 2026 which will be held in Australia’s Victoria will feature Women’s T20 cricket thanks to the popularity it got in this year’s edition which was held in Birmingham, UK. Cricket has been included in the 20 sports that will feature in the 23rd Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia today unveiled their full program for the multi-sport event, with Golf, BMX, and Coastal Rowing all making their debuts.

In 2022, women across eight teams competed in a T20I competition. Before this, cricket was only played once in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur edition of the Commonwealth Games when the men’s teams competed in a 50-over tournament.

“We are delighted to know that women’s cricket will be part of the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. It will be another significant landmark for the sport after its huge success in recent years, including Birmingham. The continued growth and upward trajectory of both the women’s game and T20 cricket fits perfectly with our long-term ambitions that include being part of the Olympic Games.

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Women’s cricket has witnessed a sharp upward curve with rising standards and a rapidly increasing fan base. The sight of 86,174 fans in Melbourne for the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 still lives strong in our memories and so we just can’t wait for another opportunity to showcase the women’s game, this time in Victoria in 2026,” said ICC General Manager – Cricket, Wasim Khan.

Australia won the gold medal after defeating India in the finals, who were awarded the silver medal. New Zealand defeated England to win the bronze medal.

Victoria 2026 will run from 17-29 March 2026, with four regional hubs in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland.

(ICC inputs)