Global governing body for cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC), has announced that in partnership with its UK broadcast partner Sky Sports it is bringing a West End drama to Edgbaston. The full cast of ‘Wicked’ is set to deliver a spectacular live performance ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup opener featuring England and Sri Lanka on June 12.

“In a first for global sport, ‘Wicked’ stars Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen will take centre stage, leading the ‘Wicked’ company as Elphaba and Glinda, performing iconic songs from one of the most globally successful musicals of all time in front of a packed-out crowd and millions watching worldwide before the first ball is bowled,” an ICC statement stated earlier this week.

The collaboration forms part of the ICC’s ambition to elevate the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup beyond sport, creating culturally resonant moments that blend elite competition with world-class entertainment and position the tournament among the biggest global live-event experiences.

Marking ‘Wicked’s 20th anniversary in London’s West End, the performance will transform Edgbaston into a one-night-only collision of live theatre and elite sport, bringing together the drama and spectacle of two global stages for the opening night of the biggest-ever Women’s T20 World Cup, the crick et body said.

The tournament is already on the yellow brick road to history and has set a new benchmark as the highest-selling edition, with more than 150,000 tickets sold with three weeks to go.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta in a statement said: “Our core belief is that the ICC’s marquee global events should serve as platforms for content, community, culture and commerce with the athletic spectacle as the core product.

“Partnering with the globally celebrated production of ‘Wicked’ for the opening ceremony of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 reflects our ambition to take the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 beyond its existing position of a premier sporting event into expanded realms of culture and entertainment…helps attract an audience which is increasingly seeking novel, enriching, big-event experiences. “

A spokesperson for ‘Wicked’ added: “For 20 years ‘Wicked’ has brought audiences together through unforgettable live performances, so to open the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in front of a global sporting audience is incredibly exciting for us.

“There is a real sense of drama, emotion and anticipation shared between theatre and live sport, and this performance is a chance to bring those worlds together in a truly unique way on one of the biggest stages possible.”

Women’s T20 World Cup LOC Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “You wouldn’t normally expect to see world-class cricket sharing the same stage as a hit West End musical, but that is exactly what makes this such an unmissable way to open the tournament.

“Bringing the magic of ‘Wicked’ and its hugely talented cast to Edgbaston will create an epic night of spectacle, emotion, and atmosphere.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will take place in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5. Over the course of 24 days, a total of 33 matches will be played across seven venues.