The Pakistan women’s cricket team is gearing up for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 with a perfect record in the qualifiers and an upcoming challenge: playing all their World Cup matches at a neutral venue. Following political sensitivities and prior arrangements, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the team will not travel to India, which is hosting the marquee tournament scheduled from September 29 to October 26.
The decision to play at a neutral venue follows the hybrid model established earlier this year during discussions between the PCB, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the International Cricket Council (ICC). The same model was successfully used during the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where India played its matches in Dubai, avoiding travel to Pakistan. This precedent has now paved the way for similar arrangements in future ICC events up to 2027.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that Pakistan would stick to the agreed terms of the hybrid model. Introducing the chairman’s statement, he affirmed PCB’s commitment to the arrangement, “Just like India didn’t play in Pakistan in the Champions Trophy and were allowed to play at a neutral venue [Dubai], whatever venue is decided, we will play [there]. When there is an agreement, it has to be adhered to.”
The venue for Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup is yet to be finalized, but it will be decided jointly by the ICC and the BCCI. The hybrid model stipulates that if one of the two countries — India or Pakistan — hosts an ICC event, the other will compete at a neutral location. This applies to the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka), and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, for which the hosting rights have been awarded to Pakistan.
During the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy, India’s refusal to play in Pakistan led to all their matches being staged at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. As a result, teams scheduled to face India had to navigate travel between the UAE and Pakistan. A mirrored scenario is expected in the Women’s World Cup, where teams facing Pakistan may need to shuttle between India and the neutral venue.
As India prepares to host the bulk of the tournament, reports suggest that venues such as Vizag, Mullanpur (Punjab), Indore, Trivandrum, and Guwahati will host matches during the Women’s World Cup 2025. The BCCI now faces an added layer of complexity in tournament logistics due to the dual-venue format involving Pakistan’s matches.
Amidst the off-field arrangements, the Pakistan women’s cricket team let their on-field dominance do the talking in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier held in Lahore. Playing in front of a home crowd, Pakistan marched through the qualifiers undefeated, securing wins against Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, Thailand, and Bangladesh to top the points table with five out of five victories.
Reflecting on the team’s success, Chairman Naqvi lauded their effort and unity, “The team showed how to take home advantage and play like a collective unit. I am happy that women’s cricket is doing well now.”
Pakistan began their qualifying campaign with a confident 38-run win over Ireland, followed by a tense chase where they edged Scotland by 6 wickets. The team then delivered a commanding performance to defeat West Indies by 65 runs, before routing Thailand by 87 runs in a one-sided affair. They capped off their group-stage dominance by beating Bangladesh with 7 wickets in hand, sealing their place in the ODI World Cup with authority.
Pakistan now joins the elite list of teams qualified for the Women’s World Cup, including hosts India, as well as England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, who had already secured direct qualification based on their ICC Women’s Championship standings.
Naqvi also confirmed a reward for the players, “The PCB would announce a special reward for the women’s team for their performance.”
With momentum and morale on their side, and the backing of the board, Pakistan Women enter the World Cup stage riding high — albeit at a neutral venue. But if their Qualifier run was any indication, location might not matter at all for a team that looks poised to take on the world.
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