ICC announces full match schedule for Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021

International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the full match schedule of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 in New Zealand’s capital city Wellington on Wednesday (March 11).

The Basin Reserve will host two New Zealand match-ups during the tournament, one of those being against T20 World Cup Champions Australia on February 13.

The 31-match tournament will be hosted in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The schedule launch event was attended by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy, Minister for Sport Grant Robertson, Minister of Economic Development Phil Twyford, Australian High Commissioner Her Excellency Patricia Forsythe and ICC CEO Manu Sawhney.

ICC said in a press release that prize money for the showpiece of women’s international cricket will total NZD $5.5million, and all matches will be broadcast live to a huge global audience.

ICC CEO, Manu Sawhney said: “The ICC has made a long-term commitment to to elevating women’s cricket as part of our strategy to grow and develop the global game. We want to build a sustainable foundation for women’s cricket. It is about building a product that fans want to watch, that kids want to take up, that sponsors and broadcasters want to be part of.

“We are extremely proud of the significant progress we have made in increasing prize money for ICC events over the last few years, with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 in New Zealand having $NZD5.5 million dollars available in prize money compared to $NZD3.1m in 2017 and $NZD316,000 in 2013,” he added.

The eight-team round robin format will see all teams play each other, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

Tournament fixtures by venue:

Eden Park, Auckland

Saturday, 6 Feb - New Zealand v QUALIFIER
Sunday, 7 Feb – Australia v England

University Oval, Dunedin

Sunday, 7 Feb – QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
Tuesday, 9 Feb – NZ v QUALIFIER
Saturday, 13 Feb – QUALIFIER v England
Sunday, 14 Feb – QUALIFIER v South Africa

Seddon Park, Hamilton

Monday, 8 Feb – QUALIFIER v South Africa
Wednesday, 10 Feb – England v QUALIFIER
Thursday, 11 Feb – QUALIFIER v South Africa
Saturday, 20 Feb - New Zealand v South Africa
Wednesday, 24 Feb – QUALIFIER v Australia
Friday, 26 Feb – South Africa v Australia
Thursday, 4 March – Semi-final 2 (2v3)

Bay Oval, Tauranga

Wednesday, 10 Feb – Australia v QUALIFIER
Sunday, 14 Feb – QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
Wednesday, 17 Feb – New Zealand v QUALIFIER
Sunday, 21 Feb – England v QUALIFIER
Sunday, 28 Feb – QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
Wednesday, 3 March - Semi-Final 1 (1v4)

Basin Reserve, Wellington

Saturday, 13 Feb – New Zealand v Australia
Tuesday, 16 Feb – Australia v QUALIFIER
Wednesday, 17 Feb – South Africa v England
Tuesday, 23 Feb – South Africa v QUALIFIER
Thursday, 25 Feb – New Zealand v QUALIFIER
Saturday, 27 Feb – QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER

Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Thursday, 18 Feb – QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
Saturday, 20 Feb - QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
Sunday, 21 Feb – QUALIFIER v Australia
Wednesday, 24 Feb – England v QUALIFIER
Sunday, 28 Feb – New Zealand v England
Sunday, 7 March – Final