Christchurch to stage Women's World Cup final as ICC confirms host cities for 2021 tournament

Auckland’s Eden Park will be the scene of the opening weekend, with games also taking place at Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga and Dunedin

The six host cities for the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand have been confirmed, with Christchurch’s Hagley Park set to stage the final.

Auckland’s Eden Park will be the scene of the opening weekend, with games also taking place at Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga and Dunedin.

The tournament will comprise of 31 games between February 6 and March 7, with the final being played under lights, after permission was granted for floodlights to be installed at the stadium late in 2019.

As the home nation, New Zealand will play games at each venue, while Hamilton and Tauranga will host the semi-finals.

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup chief executive Andrea Nelson explained: “Our goal was to ensure all 31 matches will be played at the best venues, encompassing a geographic spread that ensured as many Kiwi sports fans as possible get to engage with the tournament.

“It was great to see the enthusiasm from so many cities bidding for a chance to welcome the best players in the world to their back yard,” Nelson said.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the outcome of that robust process and the cities that are now locked in.”

New Zealand Cricket chief executive, David White, added: “This will be a spectacular event that will help further engage, and grow, an appreciative new audience for the game. We’re looking forward to showcasing the best of our sport and our country to the rest of the world.”

Eight teams will play in the competition, with New Zealand, Australia and England already having confirmed their places.

The tournament schedule will be confirmed in March.