ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India to Host as Pakistan Fixtures Moved to Neutral Venues

Published: 30 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

The International Cricket Council has finalised the arrangements for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, confirming India as the official host while announcing that Pakistan’s matches will take place in Sri Lanka. The decision comes after prolonged negotiations aimed at resolving the longstanding political and diplomatic challenges between the two neighbours, whose bilateral cricketing ties have remained frozen for more than a decade.

India had earlier been declared as the host nation, with preparations already underway across multiple venues including Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Bengaluru and Delhi. However, the issue of Pakistan’s participation required delicate handling following a military and aerial conflict in May that once again heightened sensitivities. The ICC stepped in with a compromise, ensuring Pakistan’s fixtures would be staged in Colombo, thereby allowing the team to compete without the political complications of travelling to India.

The compromise extends to the knockout stages as well. The first semifinal, scheduled to be played in Guwahati, will be moved to Colombo if Pakistan qualify, while Navi Mumbai has been allocated the second semifinal which will serve as India’s designated match should they reach that stage. The final is also expected to be staged in India, but the rules allow for it to shift to Sri Lanka if Pakistan progress to the title clash for the first time in their history.

For India, hosting the Women’s World Cup represents an opportunity to showcase the progress of women’s cricket, which has gained immense popularity in recent years following the success of the Women’s Premier League. With stars such as Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma, the Indian team will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds desperate to see them secure a first World Cup crown on home soil. Pakistan, meanwhile, will begin their campaign in Colombo with the aim of breaking new ground. They have never reached a Women’s World Cup final and will look to make history in conditions that, while outside India, still offer a familiar subcontinental setting.

The logistical demands of this arrangement will be considerable. Security considerations remain central to the decision, as concerns about visa processes, potential political protests and broader safety issues were raised in the lead-up to the tournament. By shifting Pakistan’s fixtures to Sri Lanka, the ICC and the boards involved have sought to guarantee a smooth and uninterrupted competition. Fans from Pakistan are expected to travel in significant numbers to Colombo, ensuring matches retain their passion and atmosphere despite being staged away from India.

This edition of the Women’s World Cup also carries symbolic weight for the game itself. Women’s cricket has seen unprecedented growth, with record-breaking audiences and increasing commercial support. India’s role as host ensures large crowds and worldwide coverage, while the inclusion of a neutral venue for Pakistan reflects the game’s adaptability to political realities. The hope within the ICC is that the tournament will be remembered not only for the compromises it required but for the quality of cricket it produces.

The rivalry between India and Pakistan will inevitably draw attention, as it has done in every ICC event where the two teams meet. With bilateral ties suspended, the World Cup will again provide the rare stage for the neighbours to face each other, and the anticipation for such a contest is immense. Beyond the headline clashes, however, the tournament is expected to provide a global platform for the women’s game, highlighting the depth of talent across participating nations and furthering the momentum that women’s cricket has been building worldwide.

While political disputes have influenced the shape of this World Cup, the ICC has been keen to stress that the focus must remain on the cricket itself. Administrators describe the compromise as a necessary step to preserve the credibility of the competition and ensure that all teams can compete on equal terms. For the players, the shifting venues and underlying tensions will matter less than the opportunity to represent their nations on the sport’s biggest stage.

The Women’s World Cup 2025 will therefore stand as both a sporting contest and a reflection of the broader challenges facing international cricket. It shows how sport can adapt in difficult circumstances, bridging divides and maintaining continuity even when politics threatens to intervene. With India preparing to host the majority of matches and Sri Lanka providing a stage for Pakistan, the world now looks ahead to a tournament that promises not only high-quality cricket but also a powerful statement about resilience, adaptability and the unifying power of sport.