In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it’s been announced that all of Pakistan’s matches in the Women’s 50-over Cricket World Cup will be played in Sri Lanka. While India is hosting the tournament from September 30 to November 2, the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan mean that Pakistan will not set foot on Indian soil, even if they progress to the final. This decision follows a similar hybrid method previously applied during the men’s Champions Trophy, where India participated only in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ultimately winning the final there.
The political relations between India and Pakistan have worsened in recent months, with the two nations retreating from a near military confrontation in May. The venues for the World Cup in India will include Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, and Indore. The International Cricket Council disclosed on Monday that Colombo in Sri Lanka will serve as the neutral venue for Pakistan’s games.
The tournament opener will take place in Bengaluru with India playing the initial match, and this city will also be the location for the second semifinal on October 30. Guwahati is set to host the first semifinal; however, Colombo will be ready to take over if Pakistan makes it to this stage. Should Pakistan advance to the final, the match will be held in Colombo rather than in Bengaluru, which is the planned site for the final.
The World Cup will feature eight teams: India, reigning champions Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Pakistan and Bangladesh earned their places by securing the last two qualifying spots in Lahore, while the West Indies narrowly missed qualification due to a marginal net run-rate disadvantage compared to Bangladesh.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, London’s The Oval is set to host both semifinals on June 30 and July 2, with the final slated for July 5 at Lord’s. With the tournament starting on June 12 at Edgbaston, matches will also be held in Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and Southampton. This edition of the competition will involve 12 teams, two more than the previous tournament held in the UAE last October.
Teams that have already secured qualification include Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and defending champions New Zealand. The remaining four spots will be determined at a qualifying tournament scheduled for the next year.