India head coach Amol Muzumdar has the opportunity to become only the second coach after Matthew Mott to win both the ODI and T20 World Cups when India begins its 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in England and Wales.
Having guided India to the 2025 ODI World Cup title, Muzumdar now seeks a maiden T20 crown. Defending champion New Zealand, led by Ben Sawyer, aims to retain its title, while Australia under Shelley Nitschke targets a record seventh triumph. Host England, coached by Charlotte Edwards, hopes to lift the trophy for the first time since 2009.
Head coaches of all 12 teams
India- Amol Muzumdar
After guiding India to its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title last year, Amol Muzumdar has emerged as one of the most recognisable figures in the women’s game. Before taking charge of the national side in 2023, Muzumdar built his reputation in domestic cricket and served as a batting coach with India’s youth teams and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. The World Cup triumph not only marked a career-defining achievement for Muzumdar but also delivered the Indian women’s team its first-ever ICC crown.
New Zealand- Ben Sawyer
Ben Sawyer returns to the Women’s T20 World Cup with a proven track record, having guided New Zealand to the title in the previous edition in 2024. One of the most experienced coaches in the women’s game, Sawyer has worked across major franchise competitions including the WBBL, The Hundred and the WPL. He led the Sydney Sixers to back-to-back WBBL titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and also served as Australia’s assistant coach and pace-bowling specialist, playing a role in two of the team’s T20 World Cup triumphs before taking charge of New Zealand.
Australia- Shelley Nitschke
Few figures in Australian cricket are as respected as Shelley Nitschke. A former bowling all-rounder, she was a mainstay of Australia’s limited-overs sides until retiring in 2011. After serving in various coaching roles, Nitschke was appointed head coach of the Australian women’s team in September 2022 following a brief stint as interim coach. She enjoyed immediate success, leading Australia to the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup title in her first major tournament, as the side defeated South Africa in the final to claim a record-extending sixth crown.
England- Charlotte Edwards
One of the most iconic figures in English cricket, Charlotte Edwards captained England during a golden era, leading the side to both the Women’s ODI World Cup and the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup titles in 2009. A prolific batter, she amassed 10,273 international runs and retired as the leading run-scorer in both ODIs and T20Is. Since moving into coaching, Edwards has built an impressive record, guiding Southern Brave to success in The Hundred and Mumbai Indians in WPL. In 2025, she returned to the England setup, this time as head coach, aiming to bring more silverware to the national side.
South Africa- Mandla Mashimbyi
Mandla Mashimbyi’s playing career in South Africa’s domestic circuit was cut short by injury in 2010, but he quickly forged a reputation as a highly regarded coach. After successful stints with the Titans and a brief spell with South Africa’s men’s national team in 2021, he was appointed head coach of the women’s side. Under his leadership, South Africa reached new heights, advancing to its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final in 2025, where it finished runner-up to India.
Sri Lanka- Jamie Siddons
Jamie Siddons brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the Sri Lanka women’s setup. During a 16-year playing career, he scored 11,587 runs and 35 centuries, earning a strong reputation in Australian domestic cricket. Appointed Sri Lanka Women’s head coach on a one-year deal ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, Siddons is taking charge of a women’s team for the first time. He previously served as Sri Lanka men’s head coach from 2007 to 2011 during a key developmental period and later returned as batting coach between 2022 and 2023.
West Indies- Shane Deitz
Shane Deitz enters the tournament as one of its most experienced coaches. A former wicketkeeper-batter, he played 66 First-Class matches for South Australia before moving into coaching. Deitz served as Vanuatu’s head coach from 2014 to 2018, briefly returning to playing before taking charge of the Netherlands women’s team between 2020 and 2023. He was appointed West Indies women’s head coach in 2023 and quickly made an impact, guiding the side to the semifinals of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, where its campaign ended against eventual champion New Zealand.
Pakistan- Wahab Riaz
A relative newcomer to women’s cricket coaching, Wahab Riaz took over as Pakistan Women’s head coach and mentor following Mohammed Wasim’s departure. A former Pakistan fast bowler, Riaz represented the national side from 2008 to 2020, claiming 237 wickets across formats during a distinguished international career. His extensive experience of playing in English conditions could prove valuable during the tournament, particularly in helping the bowling attack adapt. Riaz has also emphasised a fearless brand of cricket, and his leadership will be key as Pakistan looks to play with greater freedom and confidence on the global stage.
Ireland- Lloyd Tennant
With more than three decades of coaching and player-development experience, Lloyd Tennant brings a wealth of expertise to the Ireland women’s setup. After an injury-shortened First-Class playing career, he moved into coaching and spent over 20 years working within Leicestershire’s High Performance Pathway before becoming head coach of Central Sparks. Tennant has also held assistant coaching roles with the ECB Female Academy, England Men’s Physical Disability team and Manchester Originals Women. Appointed Ireland Women’s head coach in 2024, the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup marks his first ICC tournament in charge of the side.
Bangladesh- Sarwar Imran
At 66, Sarwar Imran is the oldest head coach at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup and one of the most experienced figures in the tournament. Having begun his coaching career in 1984, Imran is a pioneering figure in Bangladesh cricket and notably coached the men’s team in its inaugural Test match. He took charge of the Bangladesh women’s team in 2025 after succeeding Tilakaratne Dilshan, following a stint with the country’s U-19 setup. Under his leadership, Bangladesh successfully came through the 2025 qualifiers to secure a place at the World Cup after narrowly missing out on automatic qualification.
Netherlands- Neil MacRae
Neil MacRae’s coaching career has been defined by building and developing emerging cricket programmes. A former Scotland international who played two ODIs in 2006, MacRae moved into coaching and spent a decade as head coach of Jersey’s men’s team from 2014 to 2024. He took charge of the Netherlands women’s side in 2024 and quickly oversaw a marked improvement in results, culminating in the team’s historic qualification for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, its first appearance at the tournament. The World Cup will also mark MacRae’s final assignment with the Dutch side before he returns to Jersey as Director of Cricket and men’s head coach.
Scotland- Craig Wallace
At just 35, Craig Wallace is the youngest head coach at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Since taking charge of Scotland Women, he has overseen a period of unprecedented progress, guiding the team to its first major global tournament in 2024 and securing a second consecutive World Cup qualification for 2026. Under Wallace, Scotland recorded one of the biggest wins in its history by defeating West Indies in the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier. The side has continued its upward trajectory, recently claiming a tri-series title against fellow World Cup participants Bangladesh and the Netherlands, further underlining its growing stature on the international stage.
Published on Jun 12, 2026
