Title: Women's ODI World Cup Qualifier 2025: Six Teams, Two Spots, and a Lot at Stake
The road to the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is heating up, and all eyes are on Lahore, Pakistan, where six teams are battling it out for the final two spots. With 15 matches lined up across the newly upgraded Gaddafi Stadium and the LCCA Ground (hosting its first-ever women’s internationals), the excitement is building despite the clash with both IPL and PSL.
Who Has Already Qualified?
Six teams have already booked their tickets to India for the World Cup later this year:
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India (hosts)
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Australia
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England
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New Zealand
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South Africa
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Sri Lanka
These teams made it through based on their performance in the Women’s Championship (2022–2025).
The Qualifier Contenders
Now, six teams are competing for the final two World Cup spots:
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Bangladesh
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Pakistan
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West Indies
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Ireland
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Scotland
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Thailand
The format is simple: each team plays the other five, and the top two on the points table qualify. There’s no final match — only rankings matter.
Bangladesh & West Indies: The Favourites
Bangladesh have come a long way. After narrowly missing out on direct qualification, they now come in as one of the most improved sides. With a strong bowling attack led by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, they look like strong contenders.
West Indies, semi-finalists in the 2022 World Cup, now find themselves in qualifiers. A big chunk of their hopes rests on Hayley Matthews, their star all-rounder. But if veterans like Stafanie Taylor and rising players like Zaida James click, they could easily grab one of the two spots.
Pakistan: Home Advantage, But...
Pakistan are hosting, and home conditions could be their biggest strength. But their recent form is shaky. With a new, young captain in Fatima Sana (also their main all-rounder), there’s pressure to deliver. However, their warm-up win against West Indies gives hope. If they make it to the main event, logistical challenges could arise due to India's decision to host Pakistan matches in Sri Lanka or UAE.
Ireland: Hoping for Redemption
Ireland haven’t played an ODI World Cup since 2005, but they’ve had a decent run in recent years. With series wins over Zimbabwe, Netherlands, and even Sri Lanka, they believe they can upset bigger teams. Their recent shock loss to Scotland in T20 qualifiers, though, reminds us that nothing is guaranteed.
Scotland & Thailand: Can the Underdogs Dream Big?
These two are true underdogs. Neither has played a Women’s ODI World Cup before.
Scotland, despite limited experience, are building confidence after beating Ireland in a T20 qualifier. Thailand have some World Cup history (T20 format) and have kept their squad largely unchanged, which could help with consistency.
Both teams know that a top-two finish would not only mean qualification but could open doors to future participation in the global FTP structure.
What’s at Stake?
This isn’t just about playing in the World Cup. For teams like Scotland and Thailand, it’s a chance to prove they belong at the top level. For established teams like West Indies and Pakistan, missing out could lead to serious introspection and changes back home.
With the Women’s game growing rapidly, this qualifier is more than just a tournament — it’s a statement about the future of women’s cricket globally.
Reference from:-https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/womens-world-cup-qualifiers-pakistan-bangladesh-ireland-scotland-thailand-west-indies-in-action-1480267