Lahore (Pakistan), July 18: The Pakistan women’s cricket team is gearing up for a highly competitive 2025-26 season, with a focus on the ICC Women’s ODI and T20 World Cups. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has laid out a detailed international and domestic roadmap, ensuring thorough preparation for major tournaments and creating more playing opportunities for women cricketers across the country.
International Assignments
The international season kicks off with a three-match T20I series in Ireland from August 6–10, followed by a home ODI series against South Africa in Lahore from August 16–22. These matches serve as key build-up fixtures ahead of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, where Pakistan will play its group stage games in Sri Lanka. If the team qualifies for the knockout stage, it will remain in Sri Lanka for the remainder of the tournament.
Looking ahead to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, Pakistan’s preparations begin in South Africa (February–March 2026) with three T20Is and three ODIs. This will be followed by a home series against Zimbabwe from April to May, also comprising T20Is and ODIs.
The team will then head to Ireland for a tri-nation T20I series, featuring the hosts and the West Indies, before moving to England for the T20 World Cup in June-July 2026.
Domestic Competitions
The PCB is also bolstering the domestic structure:
- Women’s U-19 T20 Tournament: Karachi, September 15–October 6, 2025. Top performers will join a skills development camp and a pre-departure camp for the Bangladesh U-19 series.
- National Women’s One-Day Tournament: Karachi, November 6–24, 2025. A four-team, 15-match competition on a double league basis.
- National Women’s T20 Tournament: Karachi, March 24–April 17, 2026. A five-team, 23-match competition also following a double league format.
Focus on Development and Growth
Head of Women’s Cricket, Rafia Haider, emphasized the strategic importance of the upcoming season. “The 2025-26 calendar reflects our strategic commitment to providing consistent and meaningful playing opportunities for our women cricketers at all levels,” she said.
She highlighted that the calendar has been designed to allow the team to “excel on the world stage,” ensuring rigorous preparation through challenging international fixtures and competitive domestic games.
Rafia also confirmed ongoing discussions about launching a departmental tournament for women cricketers—an initiative aimed at expanding the player base and strengthening professional pathways.