In a major boost to their preparations for the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, Pakistan are set to host South Africa for a three-match ODI series in September. The matches will be played on September 16, 19, and 22, forming a vital part of Pakistan’s build-up to the global tournament, which begins in October in Sri Lanka.
The series marks an important phase in Pakistan’s calendar as they look to fine-tune combinations and build momentum on home soil before embarking on a high-stakes World Cup campaign in Colombo, where they play seven league games from October 2 to 24.
If they qualify for the knockouts, the semifinal and final are slated for October 29 and November 2 respectively, also in Colombo.
Busy International Schedule Lined Up
In the lead-up to the home ODIs, Pakistan will tour Ireland for a three-match T20I series in early August. Once the World Cup ends, the focus will swiftly shift to preparations for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, scheduled from June 12 to July 5.
To ensure continued exposure and development, the Pakistan women’s team will tour South Africa in February–March 2026 for three ODIs (which also mark the beginning of their ICC Women’s Championship 2025–29 campaign) and three T20Is.
That will be followed by a home series against Zimbabwe in April 2026, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.
In a final preparatory leg before the T20 World Cup in England, Pakistan will participate in a T20I tri-series in Ireland involving the hosts and West Indies.
Rafia Haider: ‘Schedule Designed for Success’
Highlighting the strategic build-up, Rafia Haider, Head of Women’s Cricket, said: “The upcoming season is significant, with major events such as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on the horizon. Our international schedule has been designed to ensure thorough preparation, with quality opposition that will enable the players to perform well and contribute in the team’s success.”
Pathways Program And U19 Focus
Parallel to the senior team’s plans, the PCB is sharpening its focus on grassroots development. The Pakistan U19 women’s team will feature in a national T20 tournament in Karachi from September 15 to October 6. Top performers will then be shortlisted for a three-week skill development camp, leading to a five-match T20I tour of Bangladesh in December.
Rafia Haider emphasized the importance of this developmental pipeline: “Our Pathways structure continues to evolve with the aim of building a strong future for Pakistan women’s cricket. The U19 T20 tournament, followed by the tour to Bangladesh, will offer young players valuable exposure and an opportunity to develop the skills required at the international level.”
