Valletta Cup 2022/23

The Valletta Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament established in 2019 by the Malta Cricket Association. It operates as an invitational event, distinct from pyramid-based leagues, meaning there is no promotion or relegation. The primary purpose is to provide official T20I status matches for lower-ranked European associate and affiliate members of the International Cricket Council.

Matches are hosted primarily at the Marsa Sports Club in Marsa, Malta. The format has evolved since its inception. The inaugural edition in 2019 featured four teams in a quadrangular setup. By 2022, the structure expanded to a hexangular group stage involving six teams. The current configuration typically includes five or six participating nations. Teams play each other once in a round-robin group stage. The top two teams advance to contest the final, while the remaining sides play for third and fifth places.

The competition targets emerging cricketing nations in Europe. It serves as a developmental platform for teams such as Malta, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Gibraltar, Hungary, and Romania. Occasional invitations extend to Switzerland, France, Iceland, Greece, the Isle of Man, and Serbia. The tournament fills a specific niche, allowing Balkan and Eastern European sides to play regular T20Is against Mediterranean teams.

Winners vary by edition, with no single team securing the title more than once. The Czech Republic won the initial 2019 edition. Malta claimed victory in 2021, followed by Romania in 2022. Switzerland won the 2023 men's tournament, while the Isle of Man secured the 2024 women's title. The event has never carried a title sponsor, keeping its name consistent. A separate Mdina Cup ran alongside the Valletta Cup in 2023 but remains a distinct entity.