"VAN" (Sports Desk - 09.04.2026) :: The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the East Asia-Pacific schedule and qualification pathway for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028.
As cricket continues its rapid growth throughout the EAP region with more Members participating than ever before, these pathway tournaments will provide nations with a crucial opportunity to compete for the ultimate prize and move one step closer to securing a spot at an ICC World Cup event.
The action in the region commenced today with the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier, which takes place from 8-13 April, staged in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The hosts welcomed Fiji, Indonesia, Samoa and Vanuatu.
The format is a single round-robin, where the winning team will qualify for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 in Bangladesh and Nepal. The event is the first time that Vanuatu have played in an ICC U19 Women’s Pathway Event.
Cricket PNG Chairman, Michael Harrison, said: "This is an exciting tournament for Cricket PNG as we show once again that PNG can host international events to the exacting requirements of the ICC."
Japan will stage the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in May. This will be the largest East Asia-Pacific Qualifier tournament ever hosted, with nine teams competing across two prefectures. Sano International Cricket Ground and Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin City will be used across the tournament, with Nisshin City to stage its first ever international match prior to it being used as the venue for the Asian Games in September 2026.
Hosts Japan will be joined by the Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, thePhilippines, the Republic of Korea, Samoa and Vanuatu, as they each look to move one step closer to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028.
The tournament will take place in two stages: a Group Stage from 8-10 May, followed by a Super Six Stage from 12-18 May. Teams are split into three groups of three, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage. At the end of the Super Six, the top teams will earn their place in the next stage as they look to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia and New Zealand.
Chief Operations Officer at Japan Cricket Association, Alan Curr, said**:** “This is an extraordinary opportunity for Japan to show our capacity to host pathway events for the EAP Region across multiple venues.”
“We will be stretched like no time ever before but are confident we can deliver an event that will showcase the best of the EAP region as well as create excitement for cricket at the Asian Games later this year.”
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