With the conclusion of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025, the final eight teams for the much-anticipated ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 scheduled to be held in India this September-October, is now complete. The tournament will culminate in a grand finale at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.
Six teams – Australia, India, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, booked their spots through consistent performances in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh clinched the remaining two places through the fiercely contested qualifier tournament. With all eight teams locked in, the countdown begins for what promises to be a thrilling celebration of women’s cricket on Indian soil.
Australia –
Australia were the first to punch their ticket to the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, finishing on top of the ICC Women’s Championship table with an impressive 39 points from 24 games. Their qualification was never in doubt, powered by a blend of dominance at home and consistency overseas.
On home turf, they outclassed some of the best, clean-sweeping India and Pakistan 3-0, edging out South Africa 2-1, and easing past the West Indies 2-0. Away from home, they continued their winning ways with 3-0 whitewash over Bangladesh, and 2-0 victories against New Zealand and Ireland. Their only stumble came in a 1-2 series defeat to England. Their consistency across conditions and opponents makes them strong contenders to defend their title in India.
India –
While India had their spot at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 secured as hosts, they still made a powerful statement through their performance in the ICC Women’s Championship, finishing second with 37 points.
Their campaign began with a strong start in Sri Lanka, sweeping the series 3-0. This momentum continued with a historic 3-0 victory over England later that year. In Bangladesh, India had to settle for a 1-1 draw but quickly bounced back with a dominant 3-0 sweep against South Africa in mid-2024. Facing New Zealand next, India edged the series 2-1, before running into a tough challenge against Australia, suffering a 0-3 series defeat. However, they responded with renewed dominance, crushing West Indies 3-0 and wrapping up their campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Ireland in early 2025.
England –
With 32 points from their Championship campaign, England secured a well-deserved place in the 2025 World Cup. Their run was marked by consistency and key series wins, reflecting a side that steadily built momentum over the cycle.
At home, they produced solid results, including a closely contested 2-1 win over Australia, along with 2-0 victories against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A 0-3 loss to India was a rare dip in an otherwise composed showing. On tour, England remained competitive, picking up 2-1 wins against Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa, and a clean 3-0 sweep over the West Indies. With a balanced mix of experience and emerging talent, England head into the World Cup as a well-rounded side capable of challenging any opponent on their day.
South Africa –
South Africa sealed their place in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup with 25 points, a campaign that saw its share of highs and lows.
They began with a strong 3-0 sweep over Ireland and followed it up with a 2-1 series win against Pakistan. A dominant 2-1 victory over New Zealand and Bangladesh added to their tally. Early 2024 brought a tough away tour of Australia, where they managed a memorable win in the second ODI but lost the series 1-2. In April, their three-match home series against Sri Lanka ended in a 1-1 draw after the first game was washed out. This was followed by a difficult tour of India, where they endured a 0-3 whitewash despite a close finish in the second ODI. The Proteas closed out their campaign with a competitive 1-2 loss to England. While the road to qualification wasn’t smooth, their key wins at crucial junctures ensured they remained among the top six.
Sri Lanka –
Sri Lanka earned their World Cup qualification with 22 points, thanks to some key wins throughout the series. At home, they enjoyed a 3-0 sweep over the West Indies, a 2-1 win against New Zealand, and a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh, though they suffered a 0-3 loss to India.
However, the road wasn’t easy, Sri Lanka faced setbacks with 2-1 defeats to both Ireland and Pakistan, a 2-0 loss to England and 1-1 tie with South Africa. Despite these challenges, their ability to secure vital wins at crucial moments ensured they earned a place in the World Cup.
New Zealand –
New Zealand secured the final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup with 21 points, having recorded 9 wins throughout the campaign. Their journey was filled with ups and downs, but they managed just enough to secure their place in the tournament.
Their campaign began with a 2-1 series win over West-Indies followed by a 1-0 win against Bangladesh. They then faced Sri Lanka, suffering a 1-2 loss, before going on to face South Africa, where they experienced a 2-1 series defeat. The middle stretch saw a 2-1 victory over Pakistan and a 1-2 defeat to England. Their final challenges came when they faced India and Australia, with a 1-2 loss to India and a 0-2 defeat to Australia. Despite these setbacks, their earlier wins were enough to clinch their spot in the World Cup.
Although their campaign was challenging, New Zealand fought through the setbacks and secured their place in the World Cup, making it to the final eight.
Pakistan –
Pakistan finished 9th in the ICC Women’s Championship and had to navigate through the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier, which they were hosting. They became the first team to qualify for the World Cup following a dominant run in the qualifiers.
Their journey was flawless, starting with a 38-run victory over Ireland, followed by a 6-wicket win against Scotland. Pakistan continued their dominance with a 65-run win over the West Indies, and then crushed Thailand by 87 runs, which secured their qualification. They capped off their perfect campaign with a 7-wicket win against Bangladesh, finishing at the top of the qualifiers and earning their place in the World Cup. Pakistan’s impressive performance in the qualifiers earned them a spot in the final eight, confirming their place in the upcoming World Cup.
Bangladesh –
Bangladesh, despite finishing 7th on the ICC Women’s Championship table, had to go through the World Cup Qualifier to seal their place. In a tightly contested race with the West Indies, it all came down to net run rate and Bangladesh edged through at the very end to secure qualification.
They began strong, registering a convincing win over Thailand by 178 runs followed by a tense 2-wicket victory against Ireland and a 34-run win over Scotland. However, back-to-back losses to West Indies and Pakistan left their fate hanging in the balance. Fortunately, their superior run rate ensured they finished ahead of West Indies in the standings.
Bangladesh’s campaign was far from straightforward, but their early momentum and net run rate resilience carried them over the line into the World Cup.
