U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025: How Four New Teams Qualified For ICC Tournament Debut

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This weekend marks a pivotal moment in cricket history as four new teams step onto the international stage at the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025, scheduled to be staged in Malaysia.

Among the newcomers, Nigeria and Samoa will clash in Sarawak on Saturday, kicking off their inaugural campaigns. Not far behind, Nepal is set to face Bangladesh on 18 January, while Malaysia, the host nation, will begin their journey on Sunday (January 19).

As the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 gets underway, here is a look at the four new teams, their pathway to the ICC event and some of their key players to watch in the tournament:

Malaysia

Malaysia, stepping in as hosts, have earned their spot in the 2025 tournament, making amends for their absence in the previous edition held in South Africa. The Malaysian team's journey to this point started back in the qualifiers for the 2023 U19 Women's T20 World Cup, where they notched their first significant win against Qatar in June 2022.

Elsa Hunter, the team's former captain, played a pivotal role in this victory, scoring 42 runs to set a challenging target for Qatar. Under the leadership of Nur Dania Syuhada, who boasts senior international experience, Malaysia aims to make a strong impression on home soil, especially after their fifth-place finish in the inaugural U19 Women's Asia Cup last year.

Nepal

Nepal's path to the World Cup has been nothing short of dramatic, mirroring the excitement of their men's team's qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. The U19 women's team clinched their spot in a thrilling match against the UAE, surpassing them in net run rate thanks to Krishma Gurung's impressive four-wicket haul.

This marked Nepal's second attempt at qualifying, with their journey led by all-rounder Puja Mahato. Their group stage challenges include matches against Bangladesh, Scotland, and Australia, promising a diverse set of contests.

Nigeria

On the African continent, Nigeria made a remarkable turnaround from their unsuccessful bid for the 2023 World Cup. This time, victories over Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Malawi propelled them into the semi-finals and eventually led to a decisive win against Rwanda.

Despite the final against Zimbabwe being rained out, Nigeria secured their World Cup berth by topping their group stages. Captain Lucky Piety, with prior international experience, will steer Nigeria through matches against Samoa, New Zealand, and South Africa in their debut tournament.

Samoa

Samoa's entry into the World Cup is a historic moment, not only for their U19 team but for the nation's cricketing history as a whole. Known predominantly for their rugby prowess, Samoa showcased their cricketing skills by winning the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier.

Their success was highlighted by a crucial win over Fiji, with Angel Sootaga and Silepea Polataivao playing key roles. Samoa's journey in Malaysia will see them face not just Nigeria, but also South Africa and New Zealand, testing their mettle on the global stage.

The ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 promises to be a landmark event, introducing new talents and teams to the international arena. As these four teams prepare to make their mark, the cricketing world watches in anticipation, eager to witness the emergence of fresh contenders on the world stage.