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The India-Pakistan fixture continues to occupy pride of place in any ICC World Cup, if the fixtures of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 released on Monday are anything to go by. The two teams will clash at the ‘neutral’ venue of Colombo on 5 October, as the event will follow a hybrid model as agreed upon by the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the time of the ICC Champions Trophy impasse in February-March.

The MoU signed to this effect stipulates that neither India nor Pakistan will play on each other’s soil for the next three years — which covers the women’s 50-over World Cup as well as the men’s ICC T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year. This also puts paid to any speculation that India will request the ICC not to club it with Pakistan in the group stages of any future event in the backdrop of the four-day stand-off between the two nations after the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack.

Unlike the men’s World Cups, the women’s showpiece is an eight-team affair with India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The top four sides from the round robin stage (which ensures an India-Pakistan game) will progress to the semi-finals, with the first placed team playing the fourth, and the second taking on the third.

The first semi-final, scheduled for 29 October, has either Guwahati or Colombo marked as venues, which indicates it will be held in Sri Lanka should Pakistan make the last four. The second semi-final will be held in Bengaluru on 30 October, while the final will be held in either Colombo (if Pakistan qualify) or Bengaluru on 2 November.

The Women in Blue will begin their campaign for the elusive silverware against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on 30 September, with the action starting at 3.00 pm local time. Defending champion Australia then gets its campaign up and running against neighbours New Zealand at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on 1 October, while Bangladesh face Pakistan a day later in Colombo.

Bengaluru plays host again when 2022 runners-up England face South Africa on 3 October. The round robin stage runs until 26 October, with the final day of group stage action culminating in two matches on the same day — England facing New Zealand in Guwahati and India hosting Bangladesh in Bengaluru.

A statement issued by ICC chairman Jay Shah said: “With eight best teams in the women’s game descending on India, alongside incredible venues and what promises to be record-breaking crowds, we are all looking forward to an unforgettable tournament.”

Full schedule

Tuesday 30 September: India v Sri Lanka – Bengaluru

Wednesday 1 October: Australia v New Zealand – Indore
Thursday 2 October: Bangladesh v Pakistan – Colombo
Friday 3 October: England v South Africa – Bengaluru
Saturday 4 October: Australia v Sri Lanka – Colombo
Sunday 5 October: India v Pakistan – Colombo
Monday 6 October: New Zealand v South Africa – Indore
Tuesday 7 October: England v Bangladesh – Guwahati
Wednesday 8 October: Australia v Pakistan – Colombo
Thursday 9 October: India v South Africa – Vizag
Friday 10 October: New Zealand v Bangladesh – Vizag
Saturday 11 October: England v Sri Lanka – Guwahati
Sunday 12 October: India v Australia – Vizag
Monday 13 October: South Africa v Bangladesh – Vizag
Tuesday 14 October: New Zealand v Sri Lanka – Colombo
Wednesday 15 October: England v Pakistan – Colombo
Thursday 16 October: Australia v Bangladesh – Vizag
Friday 17 October: South Africa v Sri Lanka – Colombo
Saturday 18 October: New Zealand v Pakistan – Colombo
Sunday 19 October: India v England – Indore
Monday 20 October: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh – Colombo
Tuesday 21 October: South Africa v Pakistan – Colombo
Wednesday 22 October: Australia v England – Indore
Thursday 23 October: India v New Zealand – Guwahati
Friday 24 October: Pakistan v Sri Lanka – Colombo
Saturday 25 October: Australia v Sri Lanka – Indore
Sunday 26 October: England v New Zealand – Guwahati (11 am)
Sunday 26 October: India v Bangladesh – Bengaluru
Wednesday 29 October: Semi-final 1 – Guwahati/Colombo
Thursday 30 October: Semi-final 2 – Bengaluru
Sunday 2 November: Final – Colombo/Bengaluru

(All matches start at 3.00 pm local time unless stated otherwise)