The 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup is shaping up to be a landmark tournament, with a mix of historic rivalries, neutral venue diplomacy, and competitive cricket across multiple cities. One of the most anticipated fixtures—the India vs Pakistan match—will take place on October 5 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, reflecting a hybrid hosting arrangement between the BCCI and PCB due to diplomatic sensitivities.
The tournament kicks off on September 30, with hosts India playing Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. India’s group matches are spread across Bengaluru and Colombo, and their other big games include:
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vs Bangladesh – October 26, Bengaluru
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vs Australia – date not specified, but part of the round-robin stage
Pakistan, having qualified via the World Cup qualifiers held in Lahore, will play all their matches in Colombo, similar to India's expected refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan’s group fixtures include:
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vs Bangladesh – October 2
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vs India – October 5
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vs Australia – October 8
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vs England – October 15
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vs New Zealand – October 18
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vs South Africa – October 21
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vs Sri Lanka – October 24
Australia, the defending champions, begin their campaign on October 1 against New Zealand in Indore, and later face Pakistan in Colombo and England in Indore—the latter a rematch of the 2022 final.
The format remains the same as in 2022:
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Eight teams
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Round-robin group stage (28 matches)
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Top four qualify for semi-finals
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Three knockout matches
Key venues include:
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Bengaluru
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Indore
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Guwahati
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Visakhapatnam
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Colombo
Semi-finals:
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October 29 – Guwahati or Colombo (depending on whether Pakistan qualifies)
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October 30 – Bengaluru
Final:
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November 2 – venue to be decided (either Bengaluru or Colombo, depending on finalists)
One notable absence: the West Indies, who failed to qualify, edged out by Bangladesh on net run rate during the qualifiers.
This will be India’s first time hosting the Women’s ODI World Cup since 2013, and the tournament is expected to significantly boost the visibility of women’s cricket, especially with the spotlight on high-profile clashes like India vs Pakistan.
