The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is set to take place from September 30 to November 2, 2025, marking the return of the tournament to India after 12 years. Co-hosted with Sri Lanka, the event will feature eight teams competing across five venues. Australia enters as the defending champion, having secured their seventh title in 2022. The tournament will be played in a round-robin format, leading to knockout stages, with the final scheduled for November 2. Notably, due to geopolitical tensions, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka .
Tournament Overview
The 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be the 13th edition of the tournament, featuring eight teams competing in a round-robin format followed by knockout stages. The participating teams include:
- India (Host)
- Australia (Defending Champion)
- England
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan (Playing in Colombo due to neutral venue arrangements)
Australia enters the tournament as the reigning champions, having defeated England in the 2022 final in New Zealand. They are also the most successful team in tournament history, with seven titles to their name.
Venues and Match Schedule
The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches scheduled across five venues:
India:
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Capacity: 40,000 - ACA Stadium, Guwahati
Capacity: 46,000 - Holkar Stadium, Indore
Capacity: 30,000 - ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Capacity: 27,500
Sri Lanka:
- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Capacity: 35,000
The tournament will commence with a high-profile match featuring India in Bengaluru on September 30. The first semi-final is scheduled for October 29, with the second semi-final on October 30, both in Bengaluru. The final will be held on November 2, with the location depending on the teams that qualify .
Neutral Venue Arrangements
Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka, despite the tournament being hosted by India. This arrangement ensures that matches involving Pakistan are held at neutral venues, a policy that will also apply to future ICC tournaments, including the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka .
Qualification and Format
The tournament will feature eight teams, with six qualifying directly through the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25. The direct qualifiers are:
- Australia – 39 points
- India – 37 points
- England – 32 points
- South Africa – 25 points
- Sri Lanka – 22 points
- New Zealand – 21 points
New Zealand secured their spot ahead of Bangladesh, both having 21 points, due to a superior record of nine wins compared to Bangladesh’s eight. The remaining two spots were determined through the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier held in April 2025 .
Looking Ahead
The 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup promises to be a landmark event in the history of women’s cricket, showcasing the growing talent and popularity of the sport. With top teams competing in world-class venues, the tournament is set to capture the imagination of fans worldwide. As the opening match approaches, anticipation builds for what is expected to be a thrilling and historic competition.
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