Written By: Shreya Patil
Published: April 6, 2026

Botswana will host the third edition of the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament from April 6 to 11, 2026 in Gaborone.

In total, seven nations will compete: Botswana, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Brazil.

Notably, Sierra Leone Women enter as defending champions after beating Botswana in the 2025 final.

Furthermore, the tournament features 22 T20I matches across six days at the Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 and Oval 2.

Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026 Overview

CategoryDetails
Tournament Edition3rd Edition (Confirmed March 2026)
Host AssociationBotswana Cricket Association (BCA)
Number of Teams7 Nations (Increased from 4 in 2025)
Participating NationsBotswana, Brazil, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zambia
Tournament FormatSingle round-robin (all teams play each other once)
QualificationTop 2 teams on the points table advance to the Final
Final Match DateApril 11, 2026
Match StatusFull Women’s T20I Status (Counts toward ICC rankings)
Key MilestoneBrazil Women’s first appearance in a tournament hosted by an ICC Africa Associate member
Kalahari Women's T20I Tournament 2026
Source – Female Cricket

Participating Teams in the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026

TeamStatusKey Note
Botswana WomenHostRunners-up in 2025 edition; strong home advantage
Sierra Leone WomenDefending ChampionsWon the 2025 Kalahari tournament; experienced squad
Malawi WomenICC Africa MemberRegular participant in African women’s cricket events
Zambia WomenICC Africa MemberGrowing presence in southern African cricket
Lesotho WomenICC Africa MemberCompeting in their first Kalahari tournament edition
Mozambique WomenICC Africa MemberFeatured in 2025 edition; improving side
Brazil WomenICC Americas MemberFirst-ever appearance in an Africa-hosted tournament

Interestingly, Brazil Women add an exciting cross-continental element to what has traditionally been an all-African event.

Similarly, Lesotho Women appear in the Kalahari tournament for what is believed to be their first time in 2026.

Complete Match Schedule: Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026

Overall, the tournament runs across six days with four matches per day (except the final day, which features two matches).

Specifically, organisers schedule matches in two daily slots: the morning session at 1:00 PM IST (7:30 AM GMT / 9:30 AM Local) and the afternoon session at 5:30 PM IST (12:00 PM GMT / 2:00 PM Local).

Day 1 – Monday, April 6

#MatchISTGMTLocalVenue
1Sierra Leone W vs Brazil W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 1
2Lesotho W vs Malawi W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 2
3Botswana W vs Malawi W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 1
4Zambia W vs Mozambique W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 2

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 7

#MatchISTGMTLocalVenue
5Botswana W vs Sierra Leone W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 1
6Brazil W vs Mozambique W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 2
7Lesotho W vs Zambia W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 1
8Sierra Leone W vs Malawi W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 2

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 8

#MatchISTGMTLocalVenue
9Botswana W vs Mozambique W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 1
10Brazil W vs Zambia W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 2
11Sierra Leone W vs Lesotho W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 1
12Mozambique W vs Malawi W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 2

Day 4 – Thursday, April 9

#MatchISTGMTLocalVenue
13Brazil W vs Lesotho W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 1
14Botswana W vs Zambia W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 2
15Malawi W vs Zambia W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 1
16Sierra Leone W vs Mozambique W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 2

Day 5 – Friday, April 10

#MatchISTGMTLocalVenue
17Brazil W vs Malawi W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 1
18Botswana W vs Lesotho W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 2
19Brazil W vs Botswana W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 1
20Sierra Leone W vs Zambia W5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 2

Day 6 – Saturday, April 11

#MatchISTGMTLocalVenue
21Lesotho W vs Mozambique W1:00 PM7:30 AM9:30 AMOval 1
22FINAL (TBC vs TBC)5:30 PM12:00 PM2:00 PMOval 1

Tournament Format And Rules

Essentially, the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026 follows a straightforward format.

First, all seven teams face each other once in a single round-robin, producing 21 league-stage matches.

Then, the top two teams on the points table advance to the Final on April 11.

Therefore, every match matters because a single loss could mean the difference between making the final or going home.

Because two ovals operate simultaneously, the organisers pack four matches into most days, keeping the action relentless.

Venue Details: Botswana Cricket Association Grounds, Gaborone

Both the Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 and Oval 2 in Gaborone will host all 22 matches of this tournament.

Over the years, these two adjacent grounds have become a reliable home for ICC Associate cricket events in Africa.

Source – ESPN Cricinfo

For instance, in July 2025, the BCA hosted the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier here, featuring eight teams.

Likewise, the BCA organised the 2025 Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament at this venue with four teams.

Moreover, the grounds offer standard cricket facilities suitable for T20I cricket, with both ovals running matches at the same time.

Since April brings dry and sunny weather to Gaborone, conditions should remain ideal for consistent cricket throughout the tournament.

Where to Watch The Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026 Live

So far, organisers have not officially confirmed broadcast details for the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026.

However, based on how past editions received coverage, here are the likely options:

FanCode (India)

Previously, FanCode has streamed African associate cricket tournaments for Indian audiences.

Therefore, Indian fans should check the FanCode app closer to April 6 for streaming availability.

ICC.tv (Global)

Alternatively, ICC.tv may cover the tournament for fans in select regions, especially since every match carries full T20I status.

Fans can visit ICC.tv to check region-specific availability.

Botswana Cricket Association Social Media

In addition, the BCA may live-stream matches via their official social media channels, as is common for associate cricket events.

Since these are associate-level events, official broadcast confirmations typically arrive close to the tournament start.

Why the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament Matters

Without doubt, African women’s cricket has been growing steadily, and the Kalahari tournament is a perfect example of that momentum.

Remarkably, the tournament grew from four teams in 2025 to seven in 2026, almost doubling in size within a single year.

Besides the competition itself, every match earns ICC Women’s T20I ranking points, which helps associate nations enter World Cup qualification pathways.

Moreover, multi-team events like this give players from smaller nations regular competitive cricket that they rarely get otherwise.

For Brazil Women specifically, this tour represents a groundbreaking step in building cricket ties across continents.

Ultimately, tournaments like the Kalahari event are where the next generation of African and emerging women cricketers sharpen their skills.

In short, if the ICC wants cricket to become a truly global sport, grassroots events like this serve as the essential building blocks.

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Conclusion: Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026

To sum up, the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026 brings seven nations together for 22 T20Is across six days in Gaborone.

Defending champions Sierra Leone Women return with a target on their backs, while hosts Botswana will look to reclaim the title.

Meanwhile, Brazil Women add a fresh cross-continental flavour, making this the most competitive edition yet.

Indian fans can track the action on FanCode, while global viewers should check ICC.tv and BCA social media.

Finally, mark April 6 to 11, 2026 for some exciting African women’s T20I cricket from Botswana.

About the Author

Shreya Patil is a Mumbai-based documentary photographer turned cricket storyteller. Having covered local leagues through her lens, she now writes feature pieces at WPLeague, capturing the human side of women’s cricket beyond the boundary ropes.

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