By Zainab Shafiq 
In a historic turn of events, Pakistan’s women’s cricket team has booked their spot at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, and their qualification means the tournament will be played in hybrid format.
After a commanding victory over Thailand in the qualifiers at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan secured their ticket to the main event. Sidra Amin’s gritty 80 and Fatima Sana’s fluent 62 powered Pakistan to a defendable 205/6. In reply, Thailand crumbled under pressure, bundled out for 118, thanks to stellar bowling spells from Rameen Shamim (3/18) and Nashra Sandhu (3/19).
However, Pakistan’s success brings a significant logistical twist: the World Cup, originally planned to be hosted entirely in India, will now adopt a hybrid model. Under this arrangement, Pakistan’s matches will not take place on Indian soil. Instead, they will be shifted to a neutral venue, likely options being Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or the UAE. An official announcement on the exact location is awaited.
This move stems from a broader understanding reached last year between the ICC, PCB, and BCCI. With political tensions preventing India from travelling to Pakistan for the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, a compromise was reached: any encounters involving India and Pakistan during the 2024–2027 ICC events would be held at neutral venues. This precedent now extends to the women’s tournament.
Fans can look forward to a thrilling World Cup season from 29 September to 26 October 2025, with matches set across five Indian cities: Indore, Mullanpur, Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram, and Visakhapatnam. As preparations kick into high gear, the hybrid model adds a new layer of intrigue to the competition, highlighting how cricket continues to navigate geopolitical challenges while bringing the global game to more audiences.
Pakistan Qualify for Women’s World Cup 2025, Tournament Set to Take Stage in Hybrid Format
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