The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to get underway in England on June 12, with the final scheduled to be played on July 5. The month-long competition will bring together the world’s best women’s cricket teams in what promises to be one of the most competitive editions of the tournament. With several sides arriving in strong form and plenty of match-winners across squads, fans are eagerly awaiting a thrilling battle for the coveted title.
Nasser Hussain names his four semi-final contenders of Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Former England captain and renowned commentator Nasser Hussain has shared his predictions for the teams most likely to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Speaking on The ICC Review, Hussain backed six-time champions Australia, hosts England, reigning Women’s ODI World Cup winners India, and defending T20 World Cup champions New Zealand to make it to the last four.
Hussain had little hesitation in naming Australia and England among his favourites, citing their consistency and depth in major ICC events. While discussing the remaining spots, he opted for New Zealand, who enter the competition as the defending champions after their memorable triumph in the previous edition.
The final semi-final place was a tougher call for the former England skipper. He admitted that both India and South Africa have the quality to progress deep into the tournament, but ultimately chose India due to their recent performances in pressure situations.
“Australia and England. I just said West Indies could surprise, but I’m going to go with the reigning champions, New Zealand. And then I don’t know out of India and South Africa, but I’m going to go India because I think they raised their game in big games. You saw that in the 50-over World Cup. If you can beat Australia in a 50-over World Cup and then beat South Africa. I think they’re slightly better in a big knockout game than maybe a bilateral game as we’ve seen against South Africa and England. So they are my four,” said Hussain.
According to Hussain, India’s ability to rise to the occasion in knockout matches gives them a slight edge over some of their rivals. He pointed to their success in major ICC events and highlighted how the team has shown resilience and composure when the stakes are at their highest.
While naming his preferred semi-final lineup, Hussain also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the T20 format. He stressed that a few key performances or momentum-building victories could quickly alter the tournament’s landscape, making it difficult to confidently predict which teams will emerge from the group stage.
West Indies emerge as Hussain’s surprise package
Although he did not include them in his final four, Hussain believes the West Indies could be one of the biggest threats in the competition. The 2016 champions have largely flown under the radar in pre-tournament discussions, something the former England captain feels could work in their favour.
Hussain highlighted the presence of experienced stars such as Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, while also praising the development of players like Chinelle Henry. He noted that several West Indies cricketers have gained valuable experience through franchise leagues around the world, including competitions such as The Hundred in England.
The former captain also recalled how West Indies eliminated England during the 2024 edition in Dubai and suggested they possess the firepower to cause another upset. He believes their group-stage clash against New Zealand could play a crucial role in determining who advances to the knockout rounds.
“But it could well be South Africa and the West Indies. Who knows? In this format, it is very difficult to predict who’ll get out of the group stages. I’ve gone through virtually this whole podcast without mentioning the West Indies actually. And you know, they’ve won this tournament, so I don’t know if you can be dark horses and be the West Indies cricket team, but I just think no one’s mentioning and for that and they knocked England out in Dubai. When you have Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin’s back and Chinelle Henry and I think and they’re improving, quite a few of their players do go around playing franchise cricket and a few of them have played here in England in The Hundred,” added Hussain.
Expectations high as England hosts global showpiece
With Australia chasing yet another title, England enjoying home advantage, India aiming to continue their rise in world cricket, and New Zealand looking to defend their crown, expectations are sky-high ahead of the tournament. South Africa and West Indies are also being viewed as serious contenders, adding further intrigue to an already stacked field. As the countdown to the opening match continues, cricket fans around the world can look forward to a fiercely contested event where every game could have a major impact on the race for the semi-finals.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
