Japan Women in Vanuatu 2023/24

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier is a regional international cricket tournament that serves as the primary pathway for nations in the East Asia-Pacific region to secure a place in the global competition. Organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the event operates independently from domestic leagues and the corresponding men’s tournament, focusing exclusively on women’s representative cricket. The series began in 2019 and has undergone structural changes to accommodate growing participation across the region.

The format has evolved significantly since its inception. The inaugural 2019 edition featured a single round-robin league involving six teams, including Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Japan, Samoa, Fiji, and Indonesia. By 2023, the competition expanded to eight teams, introducing a group stage divided into two pools of four, followed by semi-finals and finals. This structure continued into the 2025 edition, which added a comprehensive playoff bracket for determining third, fifth, and seventh places in addition to the championship decider.

Papua New Guinea Women have established dominance within the tournament, winning every edition from 2019 through 2025. Host duties have rotated among regional nations, with Fiji hosting the 2025 edition for the first time after previous tournaments took place in Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. The primary reward for victory is qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, ensuring the winner advances to the broader international stage.

Matches between Japan and Vanuatu have been notable fixtures within this competition. In the 2023 group stage, Vanuatu secured a 21-run victory over Japan. Their path crossed again in the 2025 semi-finals, where Vanuatu defeated Japan by 22 runs. These contests highlight the competitive balance within the region as traditional powerhouses like Papua New Guinea face emerging teams seeking to challenge for supremacy.