Breaking: ICC Announces Schedule for Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
In a landmark announcement that has cricket fans worldwide buzzing with excitement, the International Cricket Council has unveiled details for the 13th ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025. For the first time in history, the prestigious tournament will adopt a hybrid hosting model, with matches spread across five venues: four in India (Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam) and one in Sri Lanka (Colombo). This groundbreaking format not only marks India’s fourth time hosting the tournament but also represents Sri Lanka’s debut as a Women’s World Cup host—setting the stage for what promises to be the most innovative women’s cricket showcase to date.
The tournament will feature eight elite teams battling for global supremacy, with defending champions Australia looking to continue their dominance against formidable opponents including hosts India, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Adding intrigue to the competition, the tournament will follow a compelling round-robin format where each team faces every opponent once before the top four advance to the semifinals. Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to several high-octane clashes, including the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan showdown scheduled for October 5 in Colombo, which will serve as a neutral venue for all of Pakistan’s matches due to ongoing political considerations. As ICC Chair Jay Shah emphasized, this tournament represents another significant step in the organization’s commitment to elevating women’s cricket to unprecedented heights.
Tournament Overview: The 13th ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
Dates and significance: September 30 – November 2, 2025
The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled to take place from September 30 to November 2, 2025. This month-long tournament represents a significant milestone in women’s cricket, bringing together the world’s top teams to compete for the prestigious title. Most matches will begin at 3:00 PM IST, with a special exception for the October 26 fixture, which will start at 11:00 AM IST. This carefully planned schedule ensures optimal viewing times for cricket fans across multiple time zones.
Host nations: India’s fourth time hosting and Sri Lanka’s debut
The 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup marks a historic collaboration between India and Sri Lanka as co-hosts. India returns as a host nation for the fourth time, leveraging its extensive cricket infrastructure and passionate fanbase. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka makes its debut as a World Cup host, signifying the ICC’s commitment to expanding the global footprint of women’s cricket. This partnership between the two South Asian cricket nations aims to showcase the growth and development of women’s cricket in the region.
Tournament format: Round-robin followed by knockout stages
The tournament will follow a classic format beginning with a round-robin stage where each of the eight teams plays against every other team once, resulting in seven matches per team. The top four teams from this stage will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners of these knockout matches progressing to the final showdown. This format ensures that every team faces each opponent, creating a fair competition that rewards consistency throughout the tournament.
Eight participating teams: The final edition with this team count
The 2025 World Cup will feature eight teams, making it the final edition with this team count before expected expansion in future tournaments. The participating nations include host country India, defending champions Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Six teams qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship, while the remaining two secured their spots via the World Cup Qualifier. This lineup brings together established powerhouses and emerging teams, promising competitive cricket throughout the tournament.
Now that we have covered the tournament overview, let’s explore the specific venues and match locations where these exciting contests will take place across India and Sri Lanka, including the designated stadiums for the crucial knockout matches.
Venues and Match Locations
Now that we’ve explored the tournament overview of the 13th ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, let’s examine the strategic venue selection that will shape this landmark event.
Five Strategic Venues Across Two Countries
The ICC has confirmed that the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup will be hosted across five carefully selected venues spanning two countries. This marks a significant departure from traditional single-country hosting formats, creating a more dynamic tournament experience. These venues have been chosen to provide optimal playing conditions while ensuring accessibility for teams and spectators alike.
Indian Venues: Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam
Four premier cricket stadiums across India will showcase the majority of the tournament matches:
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: Set to host the opening match featuring India on September 30, 2025, this iconic venue returns to the Women’s World Cup spotlight after India’s 12-year absence from hosting the tournament. Bengaluru is also being considered as a potential venue for the final on November 2.
- ACA Stadium, Guwahati: This northeastern venue has been selected as one of the potential hosts for the crucial semi-final scheduled for October 29.
- Holkar Stadium, Indore: Known for its batting-friendly pitches, this central Indian stadium will add variety to the tournament’s playing conditions.
- ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam: This coastal venue completes India’s hosting contingent, offering teams yet another distinct playing environment.
Sri Lankan Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo stands as the sole Sri Lankan venue in this tournament. This world-class facility is being considered as a potential host for one of the semi-finals on October 29 and possibly even the final on November 2, depending on how the tournament progresses.
Hybrid Hosting Model: Pakistan’s Matches in Neutral Colombo
In a significant diplomatic arrangement, the ICC has implemented a hybrid hosting model where Pakistan’s matches will be played at the neutral venue of R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This includes the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash, which will take place in Colombo rather than on Indian soil. This arrangement ensures all eight participating nations can compete without political complications while maintaining the tournament’s competitive integrity.
With these venues now established, the stage is set for an exciting tournament schedule. Next, we’ll explore the key fixtures and schedule highlights that cricket fans around the world should mark on their calendars as we approach this prestigious event.
Key Fixtures and Schedule Highlights
Now that we have covered the venues spread across India and Sri Lanka where cricket fans will witness thrilling matches, let’s dive into the key fixtures that promise to make the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup a memorable tournament.
Opening match: India vs Sri Lanka in Bengaluru (September 30)
The tournament will kick off with an exciting clash between the host nation India and Sri Lanka on September 30, 2025, in Bengaluru. This opening fixture sets the stage for what promises to be an action-packed month of women’s cricket. Cricket enthusiasts can mark their calendars for a 7:30 AM local time start as the hosts begin their campaign on home soil. Prior to this crucial opener, India will have warmed up with practice matches against England and South Africa starting from September 24, ensuring they’re in prime form for their first competitive fixture.
High-profile India-Pakistan clash: October 5 in Colombo
One of the most anticipated matches of any cricket tournament involving these neighboring nations, the India-Pakistan clash, is scheduled for October 5 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This high-voltage encounter always attracts massive viewership and generates immense excitement among cricket fans worldwide. The match will also begin at 7:30 AM local time, continuing the tournament’s consistent schedule pattern. This fixture represents one of the highlights of the group stage and will likely have significant implications for the tournament standings.
Total match count: 31 matches (28 league games, 3 knockout rounds)
Tuesday 30 September – India v Sri Lanka – Bengaluru – 3pm
Wednesday 1 October – Australia v New Zealand – Indore – 3pm
Thursday 2 October – Bangladesh v Pakistan – Colombo – 3pm
Friday 3 October – England v South Africa – Bengaluru – 3pm
Saturday 4 October – Australia v Sri Lanka – Colombo – 3pm
Sunday 5 October – India v Pakistan – Colombo – 3pm
Monday 6 October – New Zealand v South Africa – Indore – 3pm
Tuesday 7 October – England v Bangladesh – Guwahati – 3pm
Wednesday 8 October – Australia v Pakistan – Colombo – 3pm
Thursday 9 October – India v South Africa – Vizag – 3pm
Friday 10 October – New Zealand v Bangladesh – Vizag – 3pm
Saturday 11 October – England v Sri Lanka – Guwahati – 3pm
Sunday 12 October – India v Australia – Vizag – 3pm
Monday 13 October – South Africa v Bangladesh – Vizag – 3pm
Tuesday 14 October – New Zealand v Sri Lanka – Colombo – 3pm
Wednesday 15 October – England v Pakistan – Colombo – 3pm
Thursday 16 October – Australia v Bangladesh – Vizag – 3pm
Friday 17 October – South Africa v Sri Lanka – Colombo – 3pm
Saturday 18 October – New Zealand v Pakistan – Colombo – 3pm
Sunday 19 October – India v England – Indore – 3pm
Monday 20 October – Sri Lanka v Bangladesh – Colombo – 3pm
Tuesday 21 October – South Africa v Pakistan – Colombo – 3pm
Wednesday 22 October – Australia v England – Indore – 3pm
Thursday 23 October – India v New Zealand – Guwahati – 3pm
Friday 24 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka – Colombo – 3pm
Saturday 25 October – Australia v Sri Lanka – Indore – 3pm
Sunday 26 October – England v New Zealand – Guwahati – 11am
Sunday 26 October – India v Bangladesh – Bengaluru – 3pm
Wednesday 29 October – Semi-final 1 – Guwahati/Colombo – 3pm
Thursday 30 October – Semi-final 2 – Bengaluru – 3pm
Sunday 2 November – Final – Colombo/Bengaluru – 3pm
Tournament Pathway and Finals
Now that we’ve explored the key fixtures and schedule highlights throughout the tournament, let’s examine how the exciting knockout stages will unfold as teams battle for the ultimate prize in women’s cricket.
Semi-finals: October 29 (Guwahati/Colombo) and October 30 (Bengaluru)
After the conclusion of the 28 league matches, the tournament enters its decisive knockout phase with two high-stakes semi-finals. The first semi-final is scheduled for October 29, 2025, with an interesting venue arrangement. This match will be played in either Guwahati or Colombo, with the decision hinging on team qualification. Specifically, if Pakistan advances to this stage, Colombo will host the first semi-final, providing a strategic venue choice considering regional dynamics.
The second semi-final follows on October 30, 2025, and will take place at Bengaluru’s cricket stadium. Both semi-finals are expected to start at the standard tournament time of 3:00 PM IST (5:30 AM in some time zones according to the reference), ensuring consistency for teams and spectators throughout the competition.
These knockout fixtures will determine which two teams advance to compete for the prestigious ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy, representing the culmination of a month-long journey that began on September 30.
Final showdown: November 2 in either Bengaluru or Colombo
The grand finale of the 13th ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is set for November 2, 2025, marking the conclusion of this landmark tournament. Similar to the semi-final arrangement, the venue for the final will either be Bengaluru or Colombo, with the decision dependent on which teams progress through the knockout stages.
The final match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 AM (likely GMT, with the corresponding time in India being 3:00 PM IST), giving it prime viewing time across multiple international markets. This championship decider will crown the world’s best women’s cricket team after an intense competition featuring 31 matches in total (28 league matches plus three knockout games).
The strategic scheduling of these knockout matches allows for appropriate rest periods between games, ensuring teams can perform at their peak during these crucial encounters that will determine the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup champion.