The Pakistan women’s cricket team boarded their flight from Lahore on Monday, September 23, heading to Sri Lanka for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Excitement is high, but so are the expectations, as the squad prepares to face some of the toughest teams in the world.
Before the tournament kicks off, Pakistan will play two warm-up matches — one against the hosts Sri Lanka and another against South Africa. Their official World Cup campaign begins on October 2 against Bangladesh, a fixture the team is quietly confident about after showing flashes of form in recent games.
Tough road ahead
The draw hasn’t done Pakistan any favors. They’re grouped with powerhouses like India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. It’s a challenging lineup, but head coach Mohammad Wasim has been stressing that the recent ODI series against South Africa at home was less about results and more about ironing out combinations.
“We tried different players in different roles, and that helped us see what works and what doesn’t. The series gave us clarity,” Wasim said before departure. Pakistan lost that series 2-1 but won the final ODI, which gave them a much-needed morale boost.
Leadership and squad
The team will be led by all-rounder Fatima Sana, who steps into the captaincy role with vice-captain Muneeba Ali Siddiqui at her side. The 15-member squad includes a mix of experienced campaigners and young faces hungry to prove themselves on the global stage.
Officials at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have pinned hopes on this blend of youth and experience, saying the players have trained specifically to adapt to Sri Lankan conditions, which tend to favor spin bowling.
Looking forward
For Pakistan, progress in this World Cup won’t be easy, but the team believes the groundwork has been laid. Their opener against Bangladesh could set the tone. A win there might just give them the momentum they need before clashing with the giants of the game.
Fans back home will be watching closely, hoping to see their team not only fight hard but also spring a few surprises. Because in cricket — and especially in World Cups — stranger things have happened.
