After the excitement of last year’s men’s T20 World Cup, cricket fans are in for another treat as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in September 2025. Before stepping onto the big stage, fierce competition is going on in the qualifier stage. After the Champions Trophy, Pakistan is back in hosting duties as the qualifier stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup is taking place in the country. With all matches set in Lahore, the Pakistani women’s team is calling on fans to fill the stands and cheer them on.
The entire cricket world is on its way to witness another thrilling World Cup campaign. This time, the ICC Women’s World Cup is set to excite the fans with all the thrills. But before the main event, Pakistan takes center stage, hosting the high-stakes qualifier stage on home soil. As the mega event is taking place in Lahore, the Pakistan Women’s cricketers came together and requested fans to come in large numbers to the stadium to support them in the crucial tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board dropped a video featuring stars like spinner Sadia Iqbal, wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz, and Najiha Alvi. In the clip, they urge fans to pack the stadium with family and friends, rallying behind the team as they chase their World Cup dreams. The players expressed their gratitude towards the PCB for this initiative, which grants free entry for visitors to the Gaddafi Stadium.
The qualifier stage is kicking off on April 9 and will run till April 19. On the grand stage, six teams—Pakistan, Ireland, Bangladesh, West Indies, Thailand, and Scotland—will lock horns while eyeing their World Cup dreams. In the inaugural match, Pakistan will face Ireland on April 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The ICC Women's ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2025 will kick off with a thrilling match between Pakistan Women and Ireland Women. The two teams are set to clash in the opening game of the tournament, promising an exciting contest. Pakistan Women's squad, led by Fatima Sana, boasts a strong lineup with players like Najiha Alvi, Gull Feroza, and Sidra Amin, while Ireland Women's team, captained by Gaby Lewis, has a talented roster featuring Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, and Laura Delany.
Both teams have a decent head-to-head record, but the outcome of this match will depend on the players' current form and strategy. Pakistan Women have shown impressive performances in recent matches, with their bowlers and batsmen in good form. Ireland Women, on the other hand, have a balanced team with a mix of experienced and young players. The match between Pakistan Women and Ireland Women is expected to be closely contested, with both teams eager to start their World Cup Qualifiers campaign on a winning note.
As the match approaches, the weather report predicts a temperature of 31°C with scattered clouds, making it a comfortable day for cricket. The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium is known to be batting-friendly, with an average first innings score of 236, and a winning percentage of 67% for teams chasing.
Pakistan Women will be taking on Ireland Women in the first match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on April 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM IST. The match is generating buzz not only for the cricketing action but also for the significance of the event in promoting women’s cricket in Pakistan.
Pakistan skipper, Fatima Sana, had an exclusive chat where she opened up on the preparation, importance of the tournament, playing at home conditions, and a lot more. She highlighted the value of their long-term preparation. “We have been doing camps for many months now, and that has helped build confidence among everyone. Every member has that belief in them now, and that was the aim, that every player should have that belief in their respective roles,” she said.
Fatima stressed that the team has clarity, and that has played a key role in helping them rediscover their rhythm. Speaking about playing in home conditions, Fatima was clear that it brings more motivation than pressure. “Whenever the crowd comes, it boosts you. The best part that we have enjoyed so far is that wherever we are playing, people are there to support us. So, we hope the same this time around —that fans will turn up to support us, and we can gift them wins,” she explained.
Reflecting on the significance of Pakistan hosting such a major tournament, she pointed out its potential impact on the future of women’s cricket in the country. “What I have witnessed here is that not many girls get considered for playing cricket. So, when a big ICC tournament takes place, it will always help people and parents to encourage their girls to take up the sport. Regarding that opportunity, it can help, and it can also help more people to know about our women’s team,” she added.
On the topic of spin, Fatima underlined the importance of Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal, who impressed during the warm-up matches. “Both these players are going to be very crucial, and they have been delivering top performances for a long time now. They also motivate me by saying that they will try their best to help the team with their bowling, and it helps me ease out the pressure situations,” she said. Their experience is especially valuable for the younger players in the squad.
Finally, addressing the conditions they expect to face in the qualifiers, especially the impact of dew in the two day-night matches (against West Indies and Bangladesh), Fatima was confident it wouldn’t be a major factor. “As of now, there is no such dew here because it is very hot. So, hopefully, it might not have any impact. Also, we have been playing in these conditions for a long time, and we have that idea now,” she said. However, she acknowledged that the pitch could behave differently in day and day-night games, something the team is prepared to adapt to.
With the stage set and the excitement palpable, fans are eagerly awaiting the first match. The Pakistan Women’s team is looking to make a strong statement in front of their home crowd, while Ireland aims to upset the hosts in this crucial opening fixture of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2025.
