Ireland Women face international test in expanded Emerging Nations Trophy

IRELAND Women will face Sri Lanka, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and hosts United Arab Emirates in a major ten-team international tournament next month as the ICC continues its drive to strengthen the women's game.

The second edition of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy takes place in Ajman from November 12-25, with the competition expanded from eight to ten countries and featuring five Full Member nations for the first time.

Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka, Scotland, PNG and the UAE, while Group B features Bangladesh, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands and defending champions Thailand.

The tournament will be staged at the Karwan Sports and Seven Districts grounds, with the teams initially competing in two groups of five before progressing to a Super Six stage and the final.

It promises to be a valuable opportunity for Ireland to test themselves against a wide range of opposition, with the tournament designed to provide greater competitive opportunities and strengthen the pathway to the highest level of international cricket.

ICC General Manager of Events and Cricket Operations Gaurav Saxena believes the expanded competition represents another significant step forward.

"The expansion of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy to 10 teams is an important step in providing more meaningful international competition for emerging teams and supporting the continued growth of women's cricket," he said.

"Bringing together five Full Members and five Associate Members will create valuable opportunities for players to test themselves against a wider range of opposition and gain experience in a high-performance environment."

Thailand claimed the inaugural title on home soil in 2025, edging out Scotland, the Netherlands and the UAE on net run rate after all four finished level on points.

For Ireland, the November tournament offers another important opportunity to develop their international depth, with competitive fixtures against established rivals and ambitious emerging nations. And with ten countries battling for honours, there should be no shortage of competitive cricket in the desert.