The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled the warm-up match schedule for the highly anticipated ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. These preparatory games are set to provide teams with crucial match practice and a chance to fine-tune their strategies before the main tournament kicks off on September 30.
Key Dates and Venues
A total of nine warm-up matches will be played from September 25 to September 28, 2025. These matches will be hosted across four venues spread across India and Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the main event:
- Bengaluru, India: BCCI Centre of Excellence 1 Ground and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
- Colombo, Sri Lanka: R. Premadasa Stadium and Colombo Cricket Club Ground
All matches are scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Participating Teams and Format
All eight qualified teams for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 will participate in these warm-up fixtures. Each team, with the exception of defending champions Australia, will play two warm-up matches. Australia is scheduled to play only one.
Adding an interesting dimension to the warm-up phase, India ‘A’ and Sri Lanka ‘A’ teams will also feature. India ‘A’ will play one match, while Sri Lanka ‘A’ will take part in two.
Warm-Up Match Schedule:
Here’s the full schedule of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 warm-up matches:
September 25 (Thursday):
- India vs England – BCCI Centre of Excellence 1 Ground, Bengaluru
- South Africa vs New Zealand – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Colombo Cricket Club, Colombo
- Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ‘A’ – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
September 27 (Saturday):
- Australia vs England – BCCI Centre of Excellence 1 Ground, Bengaluru
- India vs New Zealand – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh – Colombo Cricket Club, Colombo
September 28 (Sunday):
- South Africa vs India ‘A’ – BCCI Centre of Excellence 1 Ground, Bengaluru
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ‘A’ – Colombo Cricket Club, Colombo
Significance of Warm-Up Matches
These warm-up matches are vital for the participating teams. They offer an invaluable opportunity to:
- Test team combinations and strategies in a competitive environment.
- Allow players to adapt to the local conditions of India and Sri Lanka.
- Provide game time for all squad members and assess their form.
- Build momentum and confidence leading into the main tournament.
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 proper is slated to commence on September 30 and will run until November 2, promising a thrilling month of cricketing action.
