Fatima Sana-led Pakistan Cricket team has qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which is scheduled to take place in India later this year. Pakistan were unbeaten during the qualifiers to seal their berth for the mega event. The hosts made it four wins out of four as they thrashed Thailand by 87 runs in Lahore. Pakistan's qualification for the showpiece event means that it will be held in a hybrid model as they won’t be travelling to India for the tournament that is scheduled to start late September.
Hosting the qualifiers for the first time, Pakistan started their campaign by registering a nail-biter win against Ireland. After that, Pakistan defeated Scotland by six wickets. The Women in Green defeated the West Indies by 65 runs.
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With four out of four wins, Pakistan sealed their berth for the World Cup and there is one more spot up for grabs at the Qualifiers in Lahore. As hosts India had earned automatic qualification, while Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka earned their tickets by finishing in the top six of the last cycle of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-’25. Bangladesh are currently holding the upper hand with three wins in four matches but they will face Pakistan in their next clash.
Sports Tak earlier reported that India's Vizag, Punjab Mullanpur, Indore, Trivandrum, and Guwahati will host the matches of the Women's World Cup. During BCCI’s apex council meeting in Kolkata on Saturday, it was deliberated that the tournament, spanning over nearly three weeks, will be played across five venues, keeping the weather conditions and logistics in mind.
The mega event will be played in India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC, BCCI, and PCB agreed on a hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy, meaning Pakistan will host the tournament, but India's matches will be played at a neutral venue. As part of the agreement, the BCCI also agreed to ensure that Pakistan's matches in future ICC events hosted by India will also be played at a neutral venue.