Sri Lanka considered for Women’s World Cup Final if Pakistan involved

First ODI: Friday May 30 (1pm) &#8211; Derby
Second ODI: Wednesday June 4 (1pm) &#8211; Leicester
Third ODI: Saturday June 7 (11am) &#8211; Taunton

The final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup could be held in Sri Lanka amid continuing tension between hosts India and neighbouring Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council has named Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Holkar Stadium in Indore and ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam among the venues for the eight-team 50-over tournament, which gets under way on September 30.

After India refused to travel to Pakistan for the men’s Champions Trophy earlier this year, the ICC decided to use neutral venues for competitions hosted by either nation.

Pakistan will play their seven round-robin games, including those against India and England, in Colombo and should they make the semi-final and final, they too would be staged in the Sri Lankan city.

However, the weather could yet have an impact on the tournament, which runs until November 2, with October traditionally one of the wetter months for the island nation.

India are due to open proceedings in Bengaluru – which will stage the final if Pakistan are not involved – although the full match schedule is yet to be announced.

Australia are defending champions, having beaten England in the 2022 final in New Zealand after a delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the ICC has confirmed that hosts England will play the opening fixture of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup at Edgbaston on June 12 next year.

Both semi-finals will be held at the Oval, while Lord’s will be the final venue.