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Waterloo Bridge becomes cricket pitch for T20 World Cup launch

News imagePA The 12 captains of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup stand in a line on artificial grass behind the tournament trophy, each wearing their national kit, with pink and white smoke rising behind them.PA
News imagePA England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, in red, and New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, in black, stand either side of the silver T20 World Cup trophy, looking at each other and smiling.PA
The captains of all 12 teams gathered on Waterloo Bridge ahead of the tournament's first match on Friday
England's Nat Sciver-Brunt and New Zealand's Sophie Devine size up the prize, the Kiwis coming in as the side to beat after their 2024 victory

Waterloo Bridge was shut to traffic as it became a cricket pitch for the launch of the Women's ICC T20 World Cup.

Ahead of the first match, the 12 team captains gathered for a game on a strip of grass laid across the central London crossing, as part of a Captains' Carnival.

The tournament begins on Friday, with hosts England playing Sri Lanka in the opening match at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

It runs for 24 days across seven grounds in England, with 33 matches taking place in total before the final at Lord's in London on 5 July.

This is the biggest edition of the competition yet, expanded from 10 teams to 12 for the first time, with the Netherlands making their tournament debut.

New Zealand arrive as defending champions, having beaten South Africa in the 2024 final.

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