Pakistan to Play ICC Women’s World Cup Matches in Colombo Amid Diplomatic Tensions
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Colombo will host Pakistan’s matches in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup, which will be held in India from September 30 to November 2. According to a report by Onmanorama, the decision to accommodate Pakistan in Colombo was made due to the country’s reluctance to play cricket in India.
The PCB and BCCI had agreed upon a hybrid model for the 2024-2027 ICC cycle, including the Women’s World Cup and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host. However, the worsening of diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack launched by Pakistan-based terrorists and India’s retaliation has made it unlikely for sports teams to cross the border for a few more years.
As per the Onmanorama report, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reminded media persons in his country about an agreement with the ICC made ahead of the Champions Trophy in February-March this year. It was decided to have neutral venues for ICC matches hosted by either country.
The ICC Women’s World Cup will feature matches at five venues, with four of them located in India – M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru), ACA Stadium (Guwahati), Holkar Stadium (Indore), and ACA-VDCA Stadium (Visakhapatnam). Bengaluru will host the event opener, featuring India, on September 30 and the second semifinal on October 30.
According to Onmanorama, the venue for the first semifinal and the final has yet to be announced, as it will depend on Pakistan’s progress in the tournament. During the Champions Trophy, the UAE was chosen as a neutral venue following India’s refusal to play in Pakistan.
India last hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2013 and have since finished runners-up in 2005 and 2017, but have yet to win the event. Seven-time winners Australia are the defending champions. As quoted by Onmanorama, the PCB Chairman stated that the hybrid model was agreed upon to ensure that Pakistan’s matches are played at a neutral venue.
The development comes as a relief to cricket fans, who were eagerly waiting to see Pakistan play in the tournament. However, it remains to be seen how the diplomatic tensions between the two countries will impact the tournament and the participation of Pakistan in future ICC events.
The ICC Women’s World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s cricket, and the decision to accommodate Pakistan in Colombo is a significant development in the lead-up to the event. With the tournament just a few months away, fans are eagerly waiting to see their favourite teams in action. As reported by Onmanorama, the event is expected to be a thrilling competition, with top teams vying for the coveted title.
