USA book third straight U19 Women’s T20 World Cup spot

The side won all six matches, with Mahek Desai taking 16 wickets to earn Player of the Tournament honours

USA booked a third consecutive appearance at the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup after winning the Americas qualifier unbeaten in the Cayman Islands.

Led by Chetna Pagydyala, USA won all six of their matches to finish six points clear of Canada, who they defeated by eight wickets in the tournament opener and again in their final game.

USA also recorded two victories each over Argentina and Next GenXI, a composite side featuring players from across the Americas region.

Mahek Desai was named Player of the Tournament after taking 16 wickets.

USA reached the Super Six stage of the 2025 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, where India claimed the title. India have won both editions of the tournament so far.

USA join Samoa, who qualified through the East Asia-Pacific region, and UAE, who secured qualification from Asia, for the 2027 edition. Africa and Europe will hold their qualifying tournaments later this year.

Pagydyala, a left-handed batter, also featured in the 2025 World Cup and brings considerable international experience to the young USA side.

The 20-year-old has played 31 T20Is and three ODIs since making her international debut in September 2023. She scored a century on her ODI debut against Zimbabwe in October 2024.

Earlier this year, Pagydyala was part of the USA squad at the T20 World Cup qualifier in Nepal, although they failed to secure a place at the main tournament.