According to Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister and cricket leader, the national women’s cricket team would not be attending the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India in 2025. He proposed that their matches be played at neutral venues, adhering to the hybrid model already used in earlier tournaments.
Naqvi’s announcement came shortly after the team’s remarkable triumph in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, where they won all matches, including a dominant victory over Bangladesh. While emphasizing the team’s readiness to compete, he clarified that participating in India was “not an option” due to long-standing political tensions between the two neighbors.
India used this hybrid strategy earlier this year when they played matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan at the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. While the arrangement ensured the competition moved forward, some teams criticized the setup, claiming India’s familiarity with Dubai venues gave them an edge.
The ICC now faces the challenge of organizing Pakistan’s fixtures at neutral locations for the upcoming tournament scheduled from September 29 to October 26. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s women’s team’s flawless performance in the qualifiers reflects their growing strength on the global stage, although geopolitical conflicts continue to impact their international engagements.
