India-Hosted ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Full Schedule & Key Highlights
ICC Releases Official Schedule for Women’s ODI World Cup 2025
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the official schedule for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025. A total of eight teams will compete in a round‑robin format, with the top four advancing to the semifinals.
Tournament Format, Venues & Hosting Details
Format & Participating Teams
- Eight teams — India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan — will play each other once in a round‑robin format.
- There will be 28 group-stage matches, followed by three knockout matches (two semifinals and the final).
- The format remains identical to the 2022 edition.
Host Venues
In India:
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Holkar Stadium, Indore
- ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- ACA‑VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
In Sri Lanka (Neutral Venue for Pakistan):
- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo — all of Pakistan’s matches will be held here.
- India last hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2013—this will be the first time in 12 years.
India vs Pakistan — The High‑Voltage Clash
Match Details
The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan will take place on October 5, 2025, at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
This fixture was designated as a “hybrid model” match to allow play amid ongoing political sensitivities.
Why a Neutral Venue?
Security concerns—especially following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s subsequent “Operation Sindoor”—necessitated arranging the match at a neutral venue. Both BCCI and PCB had already adopted this “hybrid” approach during the men’s Champions Trophy, and the model remains valid through 2027. As a result, all of Pakistan’s matches will be played in Sri Lanka.
India’s Other Key Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 | India vs Sri Lanka | Bengaluru, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| Oct 9 | India vs South Africa | Visakhapatnam |
| Oct 12 | India vs Australia | Visakhapatnam |
| Oct 19 | India vs England | Indore, Holkar Stadium |
| Oct 23 | India vs New Zealand | Guwahati, ACA Stadium |
| Oct 26 | India vs Bangladesh | Bengaluru, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium |
Defending champions Australia will start their campaign as follows:
- Oct 1: vs New Zealand in Indore
- Oct 8: vs Pakistan in Colombo
- Oct 22: vs England in Indore
Knockout Stage and Final Venues
- Semifinal 1: October 29 — in Guwahati or Colombo, depending on Pakistan’s qualification
- Semifinal 2: October 30 — Bengaluru, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
- Final: November 2 — in Bengaluru or Colombo, based on Pakistan’s presence in the tournament
National & International Impact
India’s Hosting Role
This is a landmark moment for women’s cricket in India—hosting the World Cup after a 12-year hiatus. The matches in Indore are especially historic, being the first Women’s World Cup games there in 28 years.
Strategic & Diplomatic Dimensions
- “Operation Sindoor” and subsequent security ops add a layer of political sensitivity to the event.
- The hybrid model introduces a new standard in international cricket diplomacy—it ensures matches can safely occur while respecting geopolitical constraints.
- This approach could serve as a blueprint for future India–Pakistan contests in major tournaments.
Summary
- Tournament Overview:
- Start: Sept 30, 2025 (India vs Sri Lanka, Bengaluru)
- End: Nov 2, 2025 (Final in Bengaluru or Colombo, depending on Pakistan)
- Format: 8 teams, 28 league matches + semis + final
- Venues:
- India: Bengaluru, Indore, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam
- Sri Lanka: Colombo (Pakistan’s neutral venue)
- India vs Pakistan Showdown:
- Date: Oct 5, 2025
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Reason: Security and political considerations under the hybrid model
- Knockout Phase:
- Semifinal 1: Oct 29 (Colombo or Guwahati)
- Semifinal 2: Oct 30 (Bengaluru)
- Final: Nov 2 (Bengaluru or Colombo, Pakistan’s presence dependent)
- Key Format Note:
- Same format as 2022 (round-robin + knockout), and this is the last eight-team edition as future expansions are planned.
This tournament not only reinvigorates women’s cricket in India but also sets a new diplomatic precedent between India and Pakistan amid ongoing challenges.
