How are teams poised in the ICC Women’s Championship in their bid to book a spot in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025?
The previous edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup took place in the year 2022 and it was hosted by New Zealand. The Australian women’s team led by skipper Meg Lanning were crowned as the champions of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2022 as they defeated England by 71 runs in the final. Australia, West Indies, England, and South Africa were the four sides qualifying for the knockout stages in the previous edition of the tournament.
The upcoming edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup is all set to be held in the year 2025 and will be hosted by India. The last time around, the qualifying teams were decided based on the top four teams in the ICC Women’s ODI Championship directly booking a spot in the World Cup while the rest of the teams would have to play the World Cup Qualifiers and earn a spot in the World Cup. However, this time around, the top five teams in the ICC Women’s ODI Championship points table and the hosts India directly qualify for the upcoming edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup. The rest of the two teams will join the bottom four ranked teams in the ICC ODI Rankings.
As per the current standings in the ICC Women’s ODI Championship, Australia are at the top of the points table with 28 points from 18 games, including 13 victories and three defeats, so far. South Africa with 20 points from 15 games, England with 17 points from 13 games, Pakistan with 16 points from 18 games, New Zealand with 16 points from 16 games and India (hosts) with 15 points from 9 games, form the top six, finding themselves in a strong position to make it to the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in India, next year.
The Australian women’s team led by skipper Alyssa Healy whitewashed Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series away from home to solidify their position at the top of the points table. The South African team led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt will play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and will aim to get as close to the top of the table as possible in the upcoming ODI series that will commence on 9th April 2024. The England women’s team led by skipper Heather Knight are currently involved in a three-match ODI series that commenced on 1st April 2024 and will conclude on 7th April 2024. The ongoing ODI series against England is crucial for New Zealand to get some points. England won the 1st ODI by four wickets to lead the three-match ODI series 1-0. The 2nd ODI will be played on 4th April 2024 at Hamilton.