Pak women face tough challenge to qualify for World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women face a tough task to qualify for the World Cup to be hosted by India later this year as they are to take on some quality teams at home to earn a place in the final.

The top two teams will qualify for the final. Besides Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Ireland are other strong teams pitted against each other in a battle to make it to the final. Hosts Pakistan take on Ireland at the Gaddafi Stadium while the West Indies play Scotland at the Lahore City Cricket Association on the opening day of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025 which runs across the two venues in Lahore from April 9 to 19.

The sixth edition of the Qualifier will see teams from four full members -- Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan and the West Indies --compete with Associate Members Scotland and Thailand in the 15-match league tournament that will decide the two qualifiers for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 to be held later this year.

Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka apart from hosts India, have already qualified for the World Cup by virtue of finishing in the top six of the 10-team ICC Women’s Championship (2022-25).

Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan and the West Indies play in the Qualifier as they finished from places seventh to 10th in the Women’s Championship, while Thailand and Scotland made it as the next two best ranked sides in the ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings as of 28 October 2024.

Some exciting matchups in the tournament include Pakistan taking on the West Indies on April 14 in a day-night game at the Gaddafi Stadium, Bangladesh going up against the West Indies at LCCA on April 17 and sub-continental rivals Pakistan and Bangladesh clash at the LCCA on April 19.

ICC CEO, Geoff Allardice said: “We are pleased to announce the match schedule for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025. “The six competing teams are just one step away from the Women’s Cricket World Cup and I am sure they will all be eagerly looking forward to the competition.

“On behalf of the ICC, I would like to wish the teams all the best for the tournament in Lahore as part of the build-up to the Cricket World Cup later this year.” Schedule of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier (day matches begin at 0930 and day/night matches at 1400 local time):

April 9: Pakistan vs Ireland -- Gaddafi Stadium (Day); West Indies vs Scotland – LCCA (Day).

10 April: Thailand vs Bangladesh -- LCCA (Day).

11 April: Pakistan vs Scotland – LCCA (Day); Ireland vs West Indies – Gaddafi Stadium (Day).

13 April: Scotland vs Thailand - LCCA (Day); Bangladesh vs Ireland – Gaddafi Stadium (D/N).

14 April: Pakistan vs West Indies -- Gaddafi Stadium (D/N).

15 April: Thailand vs Ireland -- LCCA (Day); Scotland vs Bangladesh – Gaddafi Stadium (D/N).

17 April: Bangladesh vs West Indies -- LCCA (Day); Pakistan vs Thailand – Gaddafi Stadium (D/N).

18 April: Ireland vs Scotland – Gaddafi Stadium (D/N)

19 April: Pakistan vs Bangladesh -- LCCA (Day); West Indies vs Thailand – Gaddafi Stadium (D/N).