Pakistan Women’s Team Qualifies for 2025 World Cup in India: Will ICC Stick to the Agreed Hybrid Model?

In a significant achievement, the Pakistan women’s cricket team has officially qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in India. While the qualification itself is a moment of celebration for Pakistan cricket, it has also sparked a new wave of questions and discussions regarding the implementation of the ICC’s agreed hybrid model for bilateral and multilateral events involving India and Pakistan.

Ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which was hosted by Pakistan, the ICC, PCB, and BCCI reached a temporary understanding due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries. Under this agreement, India would not travel to Pakistan, and Pakistan, in return, would not be required to travel to India. Matches involving India and Pakistan in ICC events scheduled in either country over the next three years (2024–2027) would be held at neutral venues—a compromise formula to ensure participation without compromising diplomatic sensitivities.

This hybrid model was accepted by both cricket boards and ratified by the ICC, essentially paving the way for India’s indirect participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 and Pakistan’s involvement in any ICC events hosted by India—without requiring cross-border travel.

With Pakistan Women now officially qualifying for the 2025 Women’s World Cup, the ICC is at a crucial crossroads: Will the hybrid model still be implemented? Or will the BCCI exert its influence to force the PCB into sending its women’s team to India?

Historically, Pakistan’s women’s team has traveled to India for ICC events, including the 2013 Women’s World Cup, despite strained relations. However, in the current scenario, with the hybrid model formally in place, the expectation from the PCB is that similar principles should be applied to both men’s and women’s teams. Any deviation would raise serious questions of consistency, fairness, and impartiality on ICC’s part.

The BCCI, as one of the most financially powerful and influential boards in world cricket, has historically enjoyed a significant say in ICC decisions. There is speculation that the BCCI might push for an exception in this case, particularly if hosting a hybrid venue for women’s matches becomes logistically or financially inconvenient.

However, any such move would risk accusations of double standards. If India is allowed to avoid travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, then by the same logic, Pakistan should be granted the same exemption when it comes to events held in India. Otherwise, it would set a dangerous precedent where one board’s interests are prioritized over another’s, eroding trust in ICC’s governance.

For now, the ball is firmly in the ICC’s court. If it wishes to retain credibility, it must remain firm on the hybrid model that was mutually agreed upon. Pakistan’s women’s team, like their male counterparts, should be allowed to play their World Cup matches at a neutral venue, unless there’s a change in the political environment and bilateral ties improve significantly.

This situation is not just about one tournament, it is about setting a consistent, transparent policy for how cricket handles cross-border diplomacy. Any compromise on agreed principles, especially under pressure, could open the door to chaos in future events.

Only time will tell whether the ICC will uphold its own formula or cave in under pressure. But one thing is certain: all eyes in the cricketing world will be watching closely.