JOHANNESBURG — Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled the much-anticipated Women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2025-2029 cycle, a significant schedule promising a dynamic era for women’s cricket. This comprehensive programme provides enhanced competitive opportunities for the Proteas Women while fostering the sport’s growth both domestically and internationally.

The Proteas Women are set to face formidable opponents on home soil, with a lineup that includes India, Australia, Pakistan, and the West Indies. These matches will be complemented by challenging overseas tours to England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, offering the team exposure to diverse playing conditions and competitive settings.

A highlight of the new cycle is the fourth edition of the ICC Women’s Championship, the qualification pathway to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2029. This expanded format, now featuring 11 teams with Zimbabwe making its debut, aims to broaden the competitive landscape of women’s cricket, marking a new phase in the global growth of the game.

With over 400 matches scheduled in the new FTP cycle, fans can anticipate a packed calendar of major ICC events, including the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, the inaugural 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy, and the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup.

The FTP also includes multi-format series, comprising Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals, against some of the world’s leading teams, such as Australia, England, India, and the West Indies. These fixtures underline CSA’s commitment to a diverse cricket calendar that supports well-rounded player development and sustained engagement for fans.

Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s Director of National Teams and High Performance, expressed enthusiasm about the programme’s impact:

“The new Women’s Future Tours Programme marks a significant milestone for women’s cricket. The opportunity for the Proteas Women to compete regularly against top nations is invaluable; it will sharpen their skills and elevate the standard of cricket within South Africa.”

Nkwe also extended congratulations to Zimbabwe on joining the ICC Women’s Championship. “Their inclusion enriches our competitive landscape and showcases the growth of women’s cricket across the continent,” he added.

This FTP cycle marks a new chapter for the Proteas Women, signaling CSA’s dedication to advancing women’s cricket at both the national and international levels.
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]