Rwanda Set to Host Inaugural ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy in Kigali

Rwanda is set to host the inaugural ICC Women's Challenge Trophy, beginning April 18 in Kigali, marking a significant step in the development of women’s cricket among emerging nations.

The tournament will open with hosts Rwanda taking on Italy, followed by Nepal facing the United States later the same day. Running through May 1, the competition will feature a total of 20 matches played across 10 match days, with Vanuatu also part of the five-team lineup.

Introduced as a new addition to the International Cricket Council’s calendar, the Women’s Challenge Trophy is designed to provide valuable match exposure to the next tier of Associate women’s teams. It complements the Emerging Nations Trophy, launched last year, which featured the top-ranked teams across the ICC’s five regions. Participating teams in this event were selected based on their standings in the regional T20 World Cup qualifiers.

According to the International Cricket Council, the tournament will follow a double round-robin format to maximize competitive opportunities. “This ensures teams gain sufficient match exposure and are better prepared to face stronger opposition in the future,” the ICC said, reaffirming its commitment to expanding the women’s game globally.

All matches will be played at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium, which includes two adjacent international-standard grounds — the Main Oval and Oval B.

Stephen Musaale, president of the Rwanda Cricket Association, highlighted the importance of the tournament for the host nation. “This tournament is a testament to the growth of Rwandan cricket and would not be possible without the support of our stakeholders and the ministry of sports,” he said, urging fans to turn out in large numbers and showcase the country’s hospitality.

Tournament Schedule Highlights:

• April 18: Rwanda vs Italy; Nepal vs USA
• April 19: Rwanda vs Vanuatu; Italy vs Nepal
• April 21: Rwanda vs USA; Vanuatu vs Italy
• April 22: Rwanda vs Nepal; USA vs Vanuatu
• April 24: Nepal vs Vanuatu; Italy vs USA
• April 26: Rwanda vs Vanuatu; USA vs Nepal
• April 27: Rwanda vs Italy; USA vs Vanuatu
• April 28: Rwanda vs Nepal; Italy vs Vanuatu
• April 30: Italy vs USA; Nepal vs Vanuatu
• May 1: Rwanda vs USA; Italy vs Nepal

The first match each day will begin at 9:00 AM local time, followed by the second fixture at 1:00 PM.

The tournament represents a key milestone for associate women’s cricket, offering teams a structured platform to gain experience and build competitiveness on the international stage.