Two of European cricket’s rising associate nations are set to clash in a 5-match Women’s T20I series that matters far more than the rankings suggest.
The Malta Women tour of Cyprus, 2026 is a compact, fast-paced bilateral series that earns ICC ranking points, builds regional cricket culture, and gives fans a front-row seat to two squads packed with passionate, hard-working players.
Whether you’re following for fantasy cricket, live scores, or simply love the grassroots game, here’s everything you need to know before the first ball is bowled.
Malta Women Tour of Cyprus 2026 – Full Schedule & Match Timings
The series consists of 5 Women’s T20I matches spread across three days, with double-headers on Days 1 and 2, and a standalone final match on Day 3. All matches are played at Happy Valley Ground, Episkopi, Cyprus.
| Match | Date | Start Time (GMT) | Start Time (IST) | Start Time (Local/Cyprus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Thu, June 18, 2026 | 7:30 AM | 1:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
| 2nd T20I | Thu, June 18, 2026 | 12:30 PM | 6:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 3rd T20I | Fri, June 19, 2026 | 7:30 AM | 1:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
| 4th T20I | Fri, June 19, 2026 | 12:30 PM | 6:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 5th T20I | Sat, June 20, 2026 | 7:30 AM | 1:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
The back-to-back double-headers on June 18 and 19 make this a high-intensity, quick-fire series where teams will have very little time to recover between games — form and fitness will matter hugely.
Venue Guide: Happy Valley Ground, Episkopi, Cyprus
All five T20Is of the Malta Women tour of Cyprus 2026 will be played at the same venue, Happy Valley Ground, the heartbeat of cricket in Cyprus.
- Full address: Sotira village, near Episkopi, Limassol District, Cyprus
- Time zone: UTC +3:00
- Playing surface: Concrete-based pitches with Notts Sports artificial matting; grass outfield
- Facilities: Toilets, showers, cold water taps, sightscreens, shaded spectator areas
- Special note: The ground sits inside the British Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia — all visitors must carry a passport at all times
The Happy Valley Ground staged its first-ever official T20Is in October 2021, hosting the Cyprus T20I Cup (the debut matches for both Cyprus and Estonia). It has since become the default home of Cyprus cricket, hosting the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in April 2025 and the Greece Women tour of Cyprus earlier in 2026.
Key pitch stat for fans and fantasy players: The average first innings score at this ground is around 139 in T20Is, and chasing sides hold a slight statistical edge — making the toss and powerplay overs critical in every game.
How to Attend the Malta Women Tour of Cyprus 2026 – Tickets & Entry
Watching associate Women’s cricket at Happy Valley Ground is a uniquely intimate experience, and it’s accessible to all.
- Entry is typically free for bilateral associate series at this venue
- Fans must register online in advance through the Cyprus Cricket Federation website (cricket.cy) — security checks apply due to the sovereign base area location
- Passport is mandatory at the gate — no other ID is accepted
- Bring your own seating, sun protection (June in Cyprus is hot!), and refreshments
- Check the Cyprus Cricket Federation’s official Facebook page and website for registration links and any updates closer to match day
Where to Watch Cyprus Women vs Malta Women T20I Series 2026 – Live Streaming
Associate Women’s T20I cricket doesn’t always get mainstream broadcast deals, but there are reliable ways to follow the action live.
- FanCode (India): FanCode has streamed European associate Women’s T20I series previously and is the most likely option for Indian fans — check the FanCode app for listings
- ICC.tv: The ICC’s streaming platform carries select associate WT20I matches; check the ICC.tv region guide for availability in your country
- European Cricket Network (ECN) / CricketEurope YouTube: ECN has previously streamed bilateral associate series from Cyprus; their YouTube channel is worth subscribing to for any official streams
- Cricbuzz & ESPNcricinfo: Both platforms carry live ball-by-ball commentary and real-time scores across all WT20I matches
- Cyprus Cricket Federation social media: The CCF frequently streams live updates and video clips on their official Facebook page during home series — a reliable backup option
Cyprus Women: Team Profile, Squad & Key Players for the 2026 Series
Cyprus Women are the hosts and clear favourites, playing on familiar artificial matting at a ground where they have trained and competed extensively.
ICC WT20I Ranking: ~42nd | Rating: 40 Captain: Iresha Chathurani
Team Records:
- Highest WT20I team total: 201/0 vs Czech Republic (May 2, 2025, Vinor Cricket Ground, Prague)
- Highest individual score: 68* — Iresha Chathurani vs Estonia (June 19, 2024, Happy Valley Ground)
- Best bowling figures: 4/20 — Samanthi Dunukedeniya vs Denmark (April 20, 2025)
Cyprus Women Probable Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Iresha Chathurani (C) | Right-hand bat / Right-arm medium-fast |
| Ayesha Dirannehelage | Opening batter |
| Samanthi Dunukedeniya | Right-arm medium (lead wicket-taker) |
| Thamara D Silva (WK) | Wicket-keeper batter |
| Chandrika Sunethra | Batting |
| Sasmi Jayakodi | All-rounder |
| Dinelka Koralalage | All-rounder |
| Chandrika Wijesinghe | Bowling |
| Nilmini Liyanage | Batting |
| Nilusha Waruwangodage (WK) | Wicket-keeper |
| Nadeesha Godage | Bowling |
| Anusha Hewage | Bowling |
Three Players to Watch:
Iresha Chathurani (Captain): The undisputed heartbeat of Cyprus Women’s cricket. She leads the batting charts with 259 runs in 9 innings at an average of 43.16 over the past year. Her 68* against Estonia is the highest individual WT20I score in Cyprus Women’s history. She also contributes with the ball and marshals her attack intelligently, a true captain’s cricketer.
Samanthi Dunukedeniya: Cyprus’s most dangerous bowler by a considerable margin. With 19 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 8.57, she is one of the most economical bowlers in European associate Women’s cricket. On the low and slow Happy Valley surface, she can be unplayable, Malta’s batters will need a specific plan for her.
Dinelka Koralalage: A vital middle-order contributor who has proven her value in pressure situations. Her composed innings against Greece Women in the 2026 Aphrodite Cup showed she can anchor an innings when top-order wickets fall cheaply.
Malta Women: Team Profile, Squad & Key Players for the 2026 Series
Malta Women arrive in Cyprus as underdogs, but a side that punches above their weight in bilateral cricket and shouldn’t be written off across a 5-match series.
ICC WT20I Ranking: ~64th | Rating: 2 Captain: Shamla Cholasseri
Team Records:
- Highest WT20I team total: 162/1 vs Romania (August 5, 2023, Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground)
- Highest individual score: 51* — Jessica Rymer vs Romania (August 5, 2023)
- Best bowling figures: 4/9 — Shamla Cholasseri vs Romania (August 6, 2023)
Malta Women Probable Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shamla Cholasseri (C) | Right-hand bat / Bowling captain |
| Likitha Yadav | Right-hand bat (top run-scorer in recent form) |
| Anupama Rameshan | Right-arm offbreak |
| Thanooja Sharfudheen | Right-arm medium |
| Jessica Rymer | Right-hand bat |
| Additional players | TBC — Malta Cricket Association |
Three Players to Watch:
Shamla Cholasseri (Captain): Malta Women’s most important cricketer. Her 4/9 against Romania remains the best bowling figures in Malta Women’s WT20I history. She leads by example, is reliable with the bat, and her captaincy instincts will be tested against a stronger Cyprus side across five back-to-back T20Is.
Likitha Yadav: Malta’s standout batter in recent form, scoring 61 runs across 2 innings at an average of 61.00. If Yadav fires at the top of the order, Malta are capable of posting competitive totals — she’s the key to their batting plans on the Cyprus surface.
Anupama Rameshan: Malta’s most experienced bowler, with 6 wickets across 2 recent innings at a solid average of 6.66. As a right-arm offbreak bowler, she can be a handful on the Notts Sports matting, where the ball can grip and turn. Restricting Chathurani early will be her primary challenge.
Cyprus Women vs Malta Women: Head-to-Head Record & Rivalry History
The Women’s T20I head-to-head rivalry between Cyprus and Malta is still in its early chapters, with both sides only recently establishing active bilateral programs.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20I) |
| Overall WT20I rivalry | Developing — limited bilateral history prior to 2026 |
| Cyprus ICC Ranking | ~42nd |
| Malta ICC Ranking | ~64th |
| Home advantage | Cyprus (playing all 5 matches at Happy Valley Ground) |
| Last known bilateral result | Cyprus Women hold the head-to-head edge |
Rivalry context:
- Cyprus Women’s program is more established — they debuted in WT20Is in June 2024 but quickly built a strong competitive record in European associate cricket
- Malta Women have been playing WT20Is since gaining ICC associate status and recently swept Croatia Women 2-0 at home (May 2025) — showing they can win series
- The two nations have rarely met in bilateral Women’s T20Is, making this 2026 series a landmark moment in the rivalry’s development
- Cyprus hold the rankings edge and home advantage — but in T20 cricket over 5 matches, anything is possible
Recent Form Guide: Both Teams Into the Malta Women Tour of Cyprus 2026
Cyprus Women — Last 12 Months:
- Won 5-0 vs Czech Republic Women (May 2025, away tour to Prague)
- Won Aphrodite Cup series vs Greece Women (April 2026, home)
- Lost all matches in Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series 2025 (losses to Isle of Man, Denmark, and Jersey — tougher opponents)
Malta Women — Last 12 Months:
- Won 2-0 vs Croatia Women (May 2025, home bilateral)
- Mixed results in multilateral tournaments against stronger opposition
Overall verdict: Cyprus Women are the firm favourites to take the series. Their 5-0 sweep away from home against Czech Republic demonstrated genuine strength, and winning at home on familiar matting against Malta — ranked 22 spots below them — looks likely. But Malta’s captain Shamla Cholasseri is the kind of player who can ignite an upset, and Likitha Yadav’s batting form makes them competitive in every game.
Why the Malta Women Tour of Cyprus 2026 Matters Beyond the Scorecard
This isn’t just five T20Is between two small cricket nations. Here’s what’s really at stake:
- ICC ranking points: Every WT20I played earns points. For both sides, climbing the ICC Women’s T20I rankings is essential groundwork for future qualification campaigns
- Pathway cricket: Neither Cyprus nor Malta are currently in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualification pathway. Consistent bilateral cricket and a rising ranking could open doors for the 2028 and 2030 cycles
- Player development: Back-to-back double-headers give players invaluable high-pressure match experience that domestic cricket alone cannot replicate
- Growing the game: Women’s cricket in Europe’s associate nations depends on exactly these kinds of bilateral series — they create competitive calendars, attract sponsors, and inspire the next generation of players
Key Matchups to Watch Across All 5 T20Is
- Iresha Chathurani (bat) vs Anupama Rameshan (ball): Cyprus’s captain vs Malta’s spinner — the most tactically interesting battle of the series. Can Rameshan’s offbreaks trouble Chathurani on the matting?
- Samanthi Dunukedeniya (ball) vs Likitha Yadav (bat): Malta’s top batter vs Cyprus’s leading wicket-taker — this contest could decide the series on its own
- Shamla Cholasseri (ball) vs Ayesha Dirannehelage (bat): Malta captain looking to remove one of Cyprus’s key openers in the powerplay before the innings gets away
- Toss and conditions: With chasing sides holding a statistical advantage at Happy Valley, the toss could play a bigger role than usual in the double-header days
Final Words
The Malta Women tour of Cyprus, 2026 is five T20Is packed into three June days at one of European associate cricket’s most welcoming grounds.
It’s a series where ICC ranking points, emerging rivalries, and career-defining performances collide, where Shamla Cholasseri will be trying to write history for Maltese women’s cricket, and where Iresha Chathurani and Samanthi Dunukedeniya will be defending Cyprus’s home fortress.
