Key Points
- Pakistan women’s cricket team qualifies for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 after an unbeaten run in qualifiers.
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirms the team will not travel to India, citing the hybrid model agreed with ICC and BCCI.
- Pakistan’s matches will be played at a neutral venue; final decision on location rests with ICC and India as hosts.
- The move mirrors India’s refusal to play in Pakistan during the 2025 Champions Trophy, where Indian matches were held in Dubai.
- PCB promises special rewards for the women’s team’s dominant performance in qualifiers.
New Delhi: The diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan has spilled over into the women’s cricket arena, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi declaring that Pakistan’s women’s team will not travel to India for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Instead, the team will play all its World Cup matches at a neutral venue, invoking the hybrid hosting model previously used for the men’s Champions Trophy.
Hybrid Model: Tit-for-Tat After Champions Trophy Precedent
The decision comes after India refused to send its men’s team to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, citing security and diplomatic concerns. During that event, India’s matches were played in Dubai under a mutually agreed “hybrid model” that allows both nations to play at neutral venues if they are unable to travel to the host country. The same arrangement now applies to the Women’s World Cup, with PCB insisting on equal treatment.
“Just like India didn’t play in Pakistan in the Champions Trophy and were allowed to play at a neutral venue, whatever venue is decided, we will play. When there is an agreement, it has to be adhered to,” said Naqvi, emphasizing that the ball is now in ICC and India’s court to finalize the neutral venue.
PCB Applauds Women’s Team’s Unbeaten Qualification
Pakistan’s women’s team booked their World Cup berth in style, winning all five matches in the qualifiers held in Lahore. They defeated Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, Thailand, and Bangladesh, showcasing dominant form and teamwork. Naqvi praised the squad’s unity and performance, promising a special reward for their achievement and expressing pride in PCB’s successful hosting of another ICC event after the Champions Trophy.
World Cup Details and Qualified Teams
- Tournament Dates: September 29 – October 26, 2025
- Host: India (matches for Pakistan to be played at a neutral venue)
- Defending Champions: Australia
- Qualified Teams: India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
Ongoing Cricket Diplomacy and the Road Ahead
This latest move highlights the ongoing strain in India-Pakistan cricket relations, with both sides sticking to their diplomatic positions and hybrid hosting arrangements for ICC tournaments. The PCB’s firm stance is expected to set a precedent for future events, including the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, and continues to challenge the ICC’s event planning and logistics.
With Pakistan’s women’s team now officially qualified and the hybrid model in play, all eyes are on the ICC and BCCI to announce the neutral venue and ensure a smooth, fair tournament despite ongoing diplomatic challenges.
