Sports

ICC unveils dates and venues for 2025 Women’s World Cup; Pakistan to play in Sri Lanka

The tournament will take place from September 30 to November 2 and feature eight teams

Web Desk

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2 Jun 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday unveiled the schedule and host venues for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, confirming that Pakistan will play its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.

According to the ICC’s official announcement, the tournament will take place from September 30 to November 2 and feature eight teams.

Five stadiums in India and Sri Lanka have been selected to host the matches, including India’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Holkar Stadium in Indore, and ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Sri Lanka’s R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will serve as Pakistan’s venue.

India, returning as World Cup hosts for the first time since 2013, will open the tournament with a match against Bangladesh in Bengaluru.

The knockout phase venues will depend on Pakistan’s progression in the tournament. The ICC has designated alternate options for one semifinal and the final. If Pakistan qualifies, Colombo will host those matches; otherwise, Bengaluru and Guwahati will serve as primary venues.

The final is scheduled for November 2, while the semifinals are set for October 29 and 30.

This arrangement reflects a continuation of the “hybrid model” approach agreed upon after India declined to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Under this model, Pakistan will play at neutral venues for ICC tournaments hosted by India until at least 2027.

Participating teams include Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Australia, the reigning champions, defeated England in the 2022 final in New Zealand and remain the tournament’s most decorated side with seven titles.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah emphasized the organization’s focus on advancing women’s cricket, noting the strong fan support in recent years.

Pakistan secured their place in the tournament after defeating Thailand by 87 runs in the qualifying round held in Lahore in April.