The ICC has officially announced the dates and venues for the Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This highly anticipated tournament will commence on September 30th and culminate with the final match on November 2nd.
Sports News: The ICC has finally announced the dates and venues for the Women's ODI World Cup 2025. Cricket enthusiasts are in for a treat as India will once again host this prestigious tournament after a 12-year gap. The tournament will be held from September 30th to November 2nd, 2025. Five cities – Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Colombo – will witness this historic event.
India's Return as Host, Matches Across Five Cities
This will be the 13th edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup, hosted by India. The last time India hosted a major women's cricket tournament was the Women's T20 World Cup in 2016. India is now geared up to host the biggest event in women's cricket once again. Matches will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru), ACA Stadium (Guwahati), Holkar Stadium (Indore), and ACA-VDCA Stadium (Visakhapatnam).
Pakistan to Play in Colombo, Hybrid Model Approved
A significant aspect of this World Cup is that the Pakistan team will not tour India. Therefore, the ICC has again adopted a 'hybrid model,' deciding to hold Pakistan's matches at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. If Pakistan reaches the semi-finals or final, those matches will also be played in Colombo.
Round Robin Format, 28 League Matches and 3 Knockouts
The tournament will follow a round-robin format with eight participating teams. Each team will play every other team, resulting in 28 league stage matches. This will be followed by two semi-finals and a final. The first semi-final will be on October 29th in either Guwahati or Colombo, while the second semi-final will be on October 30th in Bengaluru. The final will be held on November 2nd in either Bengaluru or Colombo.
Host nation India will play its first match on September 30th in Bengaluru. This match will be particularly special as it marks the return of the Women's World Cup to Indian soil after 12 years. Cricket fans are already eagerly anticipating this match.
Participating Teams and the Defending Champion
A total of eight teams will participate in this tournament: India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Australia is the defending champion, having won the title seven times. They defeated England in the final of the 2022 Women's World Cup held in New Zealand.
Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Also Announced
The ICC also confirmed the hosting of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026. This tournament will be held in England from June 12th to July 5th, 2026. England will play its opening match at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The tournament will feature 33 matches across seven major grounds in England: Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord's, Old Trafford, Headingley, Southampton, and Bristol. Both semi-final matches will be played at The Oval on June 30th and July 2nd, while the final will be at Lord's on July 5th.
