The Women’s T20 World Cup is the numero uno competition of women’s cricket that determines the champion side of the shortest format of the sport. While the T20 World Cup for the men began in 2007, the first edition of the women was staged in 2009. Since then, nine editions of the T20 World Cup have been held, with the 2014 edition being the latest. However, the format of the tournament has changed over the years.
2009-2014
A total of eight teams featured in the competition till the 2014 edition. The top six teams were determined based on their ICC rankings in the T20 format. The two next best sides were determined based on a qualifying event.
2014 onwards
Since 2014, the number of participating teams has risen to ten sides. Host nations automatically qualify for the event. Three other teams qualify based on regional and global qualifying events held as a path to get to the main event. The six best performing teams from the previous edition of the T20 World Cup are guaranteed a spot in the main event.
For example, in 2024, Bangladesh qualified as the hosts. Pakistan qualified by virtue of its performance in the previous edition. Six teams qualified for being ranked higher in the ICC rankings. Scotland and Sri Lanka qualified based on their performance in the qualification rounds.
Group stage
The ten chosen teams were divided into two groups of five teams each based on a draw system. Teams would play each other once in a round-robin format in each group. A win fetches two points, zero points for a loss, and a match with no result leads to each side getting one point. At the end of the league stage, the top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stages. If two teams are tied at the same number of points, then the better side is decided through net run-rate.
Knockout stage
Team with the most points in Group A faces the second-best team in Group B in the first semi-final. The second semi-final is played between the team with the most points in Group B and the second best-team of Group A. The time period between the second semi-final and the final is no more than two days.
As of 2025, Australia has been the most successful side with six titles whereas England, West Indies, and New Zealand have won one title each.
