November 4, 2024: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the Women's Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2025-2029, with India set to host prominent teams including England, Australia, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the women's game, as it includes matches for the fourth edition of the ICC Women's Championship.

Scheduled to run from May 2025 to April 2029, this FTP guarantees that an ICC women's event will take place each year. The inaugural six-team ICC Women’s Champions Trophy is set for 2027, adding further excitement to the women's cricket calendar.

India's hosting duties will coincide with several major tournaments, including the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, which will also be held in India, and the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, hosted by the United Kingdom. Another T20 World Cup is slated for 2028, with the host nation yet to be announced.

For the first time, the ICC Women’s Championship will expand to include 11 teams, welcoming Zimbabwe to the tournament. A total of 132 ODIs will be contested over 44 series, each consisting of three matches, providing a crucial pathway for qualification to the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2029.

In preparation for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2026, England is set to host a tri-series featuring India and New Zealand. Additionally, Ireland will host Pakistan and the West Indies, while Sri Lanka and the West Indies are scheduled to hold T20I tri-series in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager of Cricket, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded format: "We are pleased that the new edition of the IWC has expanded and will include Zimbabwe as an eleventh team. It is heartening that Member Boards are keen to play across formats, and also that they have planned tri-series to prepare for ICC events."

The FTP also opens up more opportunities for Test matches, as Australia, England, India, South Africa, and the West Indies have agreed to engage in multi-format series that include ODIs and T20Is. Australia will play the most multi-format series, facing England, India, and South Africa twice, and the West Indies once.

Looking ahead, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, set for July, will be accommodated within the FTP, alongside dedicated windows for various domestic leagues, including the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in November, The Hundred in August, and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in January-February. Starting in 2026, the WPL will shift to the January-February window, allowing for greater visibility and competition in the women’s cricket landscape.