ICC Unveils 2025 Women's World Cup Schedule
The ICC has officially announced the schedule for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, set to take place from September 30 to November 2, 2025. Hosting will occur across multiple venues in India and Sri Lanka, marking a significant development in the tournament’s organization.
Hosts and Venues
Initially, India was awarded exclusive hosting rights for the eight-team tournament. However, Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, has been added as a venue due to a unique arrangement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), commonly referred to as the Hybrid Model.
The matches will be played in the following cities:
- Bengaluru
- Guwahati
- Indore
- Visakhapatnam
- Colombo (Sri Lanka)
Hybrid Model and Pakistan's Participation
Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo instead of India under this arrangement, as Pakistan has declined to travel to India for the event. This mirrors a similar protocol implemented earlier in the year for the Champions Trophy where teams had split venues due to geopolitical considerations.
Key Tournament Dates and Fixture Highlights
The tournament will commence with a high-profile match in Bengaluru on September 30, featuring the Indian team. The semifinal matches are scheduled for October 29 and 30, with the first semifinal to be hosted in either Guwahati or Colombo, and the second in Bengaluru. The final is slated for November 2, to be held in either Bengaluru or Colombo, allowing at least two days’ preparation for the finalists.
Participating Teams and Competition Outlook
The 2025 Women's World Cup will feature the following teams:
- India (host)
- Australia (defending champions)
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
- England
- Sri Lanka
- New Zealand
- South Africa
Bangladesh and Pakistan qualified after finishing among the top two in the recent qualification tournament held in April. India is aiming to claim their first-ever Women’s World Cup title, while Australia remains the most successful team in the tournament’s history with seven championships.
