Pakistan to Skip Women’s World Cup in India

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has officially announced that the Pakistan women’s cricket team will not travel to India for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Instead, Pakistan will compete under the hybrid hosting model, playing their matches at a neutral venue, by an agreement brokered by the ICC earlier this year.

• No Travel to India: Pakistan women’s team to play at neutral venues

• Event Dates: September 29 – October 26, 2025, hosted by India

• Hybrid Model: Agreed in 2024–27 cycle for India‑Pakistan fixtures

• Qualification: Pakistan topped the Qualifiers in Lahore, winning all five matches

• Host Responsibility: BCCI and ICC to select and announce neutral venues

• Precedent: Mirrors India’s neutral‑venue participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy

Why a Hybrid Model Exists

Ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan have complicated bilateral cricket tours for years. To ensure ICC events proceed smoothly, both boards, along with the ICC, agreed to a “hybrid hosting” arrangement for the 2024–27 cycle:

• India‑hosted events: Pakistan plays at neutral venues

• Pakistan‑hosted events: India plays at neutral venues

• Goal: Preserve sporting continuity while respecting diplomatic sensitivities.

This model was first activated during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, when India declined to tour Pakistan, and their matches were moved to Dubai.

• Event: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

• Dates: September 29 – October 26, 2025

• Format: Round‑robin group stage followed by semifinals and final

• Teams: 8 (Hosts India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh)

• Venues: Originally 6 Indian stadiums; Pakistan’s fixtures will be relocated to yet‑to‑be‑announced neutral venues.

• Location: Lahore

• Matches Won: 5/5 (vs Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, Thailand, Bangladesh)

• Net Run Rate: +2.15

• Outcome: Qualified as Asia's 8th team, topping the table undefeated.

The women’s team’s strong showing has elevated expectations. Players like Muneeba Ali, Nida Dar, and Aliya Riaz head into the World Cup brimming with confidence.

“Just like India didn’t play in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy and were allowed to compete at a neutral venue, we will follow the same agreement,” Naqvi told the press, as reported by the PTI.

“When there is an agreement, it must be honoured. The BCCI and ICC will decide which neutral venue is suitable, and Pakistan will compete there. Our priority is to give our players the best preparation without compromising their safety or the spirit of competition.”

Naqvi emphasized that Pakistan’s commitment to women’s cricket remains unwavering, and the board will work closely with the ICC to finalize logistics, security, and broadcast arrangements.

As the official hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in partnership with the ICC, will:

• Select neutral venues (likely Dubai, Sharjah, or a European location)

• Manage scheduling to accommodate time‑zone differences and broadcast windows

• Ensure seamless integration of Pakistan’s fixtures with the main tournament schedule

• Oversee security protocols in line with ICC standards.

This cooperation aims to minimize disruption for players, broadcasters, and fans while upholding the tournament’s integrity.

During the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (February–March), India did not travel to Pakistan. Their five group‑stage matches, plus the semifinal and final (if applicable), were held in Dubai:

• Group stages: Three matches in Dubai

• Semifinal: Dubai International Stadium

• Final: Dubai International Stadium (if India qualified)

• Outcome: India won their 3rd Champions Trophy title on March 9, 2025.

Pakistan took part normally in Pakistan‑hosted matches under the same hybrid framework, underscoring the reciprocal nature of the arrangement.

Training & Logistics

• Pre‑tournament camps: Proposed in Lahore, Abu Dhabi, or Dubai to acclimatize players

• Management of schedules: Minimizing travel fatigue with back‑to‑back training and practice matches

• Psychological readiness: Special sessions to handle the unusual logistics and maintain team morale

Broadcast & Sponsorship

• Broadcasters: PTV Sports (Pakistan), Star Sports (India), and global rights holders adapting to neutral‑venue feed

• Sponsors: Increased visibility for PCB partners through digital and in‑stadium branding in neutral venues

• Digital engagement: Planned interactive fan‑engagement drives via social media and mobile apps

• Match schedules: Finalized fixtures for Pakistan’s games to be announced by the ICC by June 2025

• Ticketing: Reserved allocations for Pakistani expatriate communities in neutral‑venue markets

• Live streaming: Digital passes available on PCB’s official app and partner platforms

• Fan zones: Official viewing parties planned in Lahore, Karachi, and major global cities to replicate the stadium atmosphere

The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, to be co‑hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is expected to follow a similar hybrid model:

• India‑linked matches: Pakistan to play in neutral venues

• Sri Lanka‑linked matches: India to play outside Sri Lanka if mutual agreement is invoked

• Continuity: Ensures all bilateral sensitivities are handled under one unified ICC framework

This policy underscores a long-term solution for major tournaments involving the two neighboring cricketing giants.

Mohsin Naqvi’s confirmation that Pakistan won’t play in India for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 reinforces the hybrid hosting model as a pragmatic solution for cricket’s biggest diplomatic challenge. While fans in both countries may lament the lack of on‑ground rivalry, the arrangement ensures that sporting excellence prevails over politics, keeping the focus squarely on the players and the game.