KEY POINTS
- The Pakistan women’s cricket team will not participate in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India
- All of Pakistan’s matches, including their high-profile game against India, will be played in Colombo
ISLAMABAD: The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is set to commence on September 30 with an opening ceremony in Guwahati, India. However, the Pakistan team will not participate in the event.
Neither captain Fatima Sana, her teammates, nor officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will attend, in accordance with an agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and PCB that prohibits cross-border travel for ICC tournaments over the next three years.
While other teams will participate in the joint press conference and trophy photoshoot, Pakistan’s preparations are confined to Colombo, their exclusive base for the tournament.
Pakistan’s matches begin on October 2 against Bangladesh at the R Premadasa Stadium, with a highly anticipated match against India scheduled for October 5 at the same venue.
Should Pakistan advance further, their semifinal on October 29 and the final on November 2 will also be held in Colombo.
This arrangement is part of a hybrid model introduced for ICC events involving India and Pakistan. Following India’s refusal to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, this model was established to prevent teams from crossing borders.
Consequently, all Pakistan matches in this Women’s ODI World Cup, including the high-profile India-Pakistan fixture, are played at neutral venues.
The BCCI adopted a policy of no bilateral cricket with Pakistan, extending this stance explicitly to women’s cricket. Although India and Pakistan’s women’s teams have only met in ICC tournaments, bilateral series are barred.
For Pakistan, the focus remains on making a historic impact. Fatima Sana will captain the team in a World Cup for the first time, aiming to advance beyond the group stage and reach the top four, a milestone they have yet to achieve.
Since their debut in the 1997 ODI World Cup, Pakistan has participated in five editions and secured only three wins, the most recent against the West Indies in 2022.
Encouragingly, Pakistan recently qualified undefeated from the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025, winning all five matches under Sana’s leadership. This unbeaten run has fueled hopes for a breakthrough performance in the main tournament.
Although the Pakistani team will not be present in Guwahati, their journey will be decided in Colombo.
For the Women in Green, this World Cup represents more than logistical adjustments — it is an opportunity to showcase their strength on the global stage.
