England Women's T20 World Cup Preparations Hit by Skipper's Departure

The England women's cricket team is facing a setback in their T20 World Cup preparations as captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has returned home from South Africa due to family reasons. With the tournament set to begin on June 12, the team is gearing up for crucial matches against New Zealand and India. This year's World Cup features a record 12 teams, making it the largest tournament in its history. England's group includes formidable opponents like Sri Lanka and New Zealand, adding to the stakes as they aim for success.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 20, 2026, 09:41 IST

England Women's Team Faces Setback

The England women's cricket team has encountered a minor hurdle in their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Their captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, has returned to England from South Africa due to personal family matters.

Details of the Skipper's Exit

Since the beginning of the week, 30 players from the England Women’s squad have been training in Pretoria, engaging in five intra-squad matches to gear up for their summer season and the T20 World Cup starting on June 12. England Cricket announced via a post on X that Sciver-Brunt would not continue with the tour, stating, "Nat Sciver-Brunt has returned home from South Africa for family reasons. It is expected she'll play no further part in the tour."

In her last match, Sciver-Brunt made a notable contribution, scoring 41 runs in the opening intra-club game before her departure.

Upcoming Matches for England Women

The England Women’s team is set to face the reigning T20 World Cup champions, New Zealand Women, in a three-match T20I series in May. Following that, they will take on India in another three-match series later in the same month.

T20 World Cup Overview

The 2009 champions, England, will kick off their T20 World Cup journey on June 12 against Sri Lanka in Birmingham. They are also scheduled to compete against Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, and New Zealand in the group stage.

This year marks the 10th edition of the tournament, running from June 12 to July 5, featuring 12 teams—the largest number of participants in the event's history.

In Group B, England will compete alongside Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. Group A includes Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands.