Pakistan’s women’s cricket team will not attend the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 opening ceremony scheduled in Guwahati on September 30, according to Geo Super. The grand event, set to precede the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka, will feature a performance by acclaimed Indian singer Shreya Ghoshal.
Team Will Play Matches in Colombo
Sources revealed that neither Captain Fatima Sana nor any other representative from Pakistan will travel to India. Due to ongoing political tensions, Pakistan’s Women’s World Cup matches will be played entirely at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, including potential semi-finals on October 29 and the final on November 2. Pakistan will open their campaign against Bangladesh on October 2 and face India on October 5.
Squad Secured Spot with Unbeaten Qualifiers
The Pakistan squad earned their place in the tournament by remaining unbeaten in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers, winning all five matches on home soil.
Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 Squad
Players: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vc), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Syeda Aroob Shah.
Non-traveling reserves: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar.
Pakistan’s absence from the opening ceremony highlights the ongoing political sensitivities between the neighboring nations, but fans can still look forward to exciting matches in Colombo during the tournament.