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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed that the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be held from 30 September to 2 November 2025, bringing the 50-over women’s tournament back to the subcontinent for the first time in over a decade. India and Sri Lanka will co-host this prestigious global event, marking a pivotal moment for the growth and visibility of women’s cricket in the region.
Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Tournament structure and participating teams
The 2025 edition of the World Cup will feature eight teams: India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, competing in a round-robin format. Each team will play against every other side once in the group stage, with a total of 28 league matches scheduled. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin phase will qualify for the semi-finals, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive knockout battle. This structure ensures that all teams have equal opportunities to prove themselves over a series of matches and rewards consistent performance across the league phase. With established powerhouses like Australia and England, as well as emerging forces like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the tournament promises to deliver high-quality cricket, unexpected outcomes, and closely fought contests.
Match venues across India and Sri Lanka
The matches will be hosted across five carefully selected venues in India and Sri Lanka, each known for its unique atmosphere and cricketing legacy. In India, the stadiums chosen are the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Holkar Stadium in Indore, and ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. These venues represent a geographical spread and will offer varied playing conditions to test the adaptability of the teams. In Sri Lanka, the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will serve as the host venue. The tournament will open with hosts India playing in Bengaluru, a symbolic choice that highlights the country’s role in promoting the women’s game. With well-equipped facilities and passionate local support, these stadiums are expected to create an exciting and festive environment throughout the event, drawing attention not just from local spectators but from global cricket followers as well.
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Knockout matches and venue contingencies for Pakistan
The knockout stage of the World Cup is scheduled to begin on 29 October, with two semi-finals preceding the grand finale. The first semi-final will take place in either Guwahati or Colombo, while the second semi-final is confirmed for 30 October in Bengaluru. The final match of the tournament will be held on 2 November and is slated for either Bengaluru or Colombo.
However, the ICC has included a venue contingency based on Pakistan’s qualification for the knockout rounds. If Pakistan reaches the semi-finals or the final, those matches will automatically be hosted in Colombo, adhering to existing logistical and diplomatic considerations. This provision ensures smooth execution and avoids potential complications. Additionally, a mandatory two-day gap has been placed between the semi-finals and the final, giving the finalists adequate time for rest, recovery, and preparation, which is vital for performance in high-pressure matches.
Australia’s legacy and the challenge for other teams
Australia will enter the 2025 tournament as the defending champions, having clinched their record-extending seventh Women’s World Cup title in 2022 with a commanding win over England in New Zealand. Their dominance in the women’s game is well established, and they remain the team to beat in any global event. With a well-balanced squad and a winning culture, Australia will pose a significant challenge to all other competitors. However, teams like India, England, and South Africa have shown substantial improvement in recent years and will be eager to challenge Australia’s supremacy. For newer contenders like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the tournament provides a valuable opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best and potentially cause major upsets, making this World Cup an unpredictable and thrilling spectacle.
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