West Indies Miss World Cup; Pakistan’s Unbeaten Streak Secures Qualification

A group of West Indies womens cricket players in maroon uniforms gather on the field during a World Cup match, while a player from Pakistan in a blue uniform walks away. The stadium seats in the background are mostly empty. | jeetwinbet.com

By Kashvi

Posted: April 19, 2025
Last updated: April 21, 2025

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In a dramatic turn of events, the West Indies women’s cricket team failed to qualify for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup, marking the first time in 25 years they will miss the tournament. Pakistan, on the other hand, completed a flawless qualifier campaign to secure their spot alongside Bangladesh, who also qualified. The ICC Women’s World Cup is set to begin on September 29th, hosted by India, featuring a total of eight teams: Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Despite the West Indies defeating Thailand by six wickets, they were unable to secure a place due to the close net run-rate; finishing just 0.01 behind Bangladesh. West Indies needed to chase down their target in under ten overs to improve their net run-rate sufficiently but reached 156-3 after ten overs, falling short of the necessary mark.

Hayley Matthews performed outstandingly during the qualifiers, becoming the leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets. In their clash against Thailand, Matthews exhibited her exceptional skills, scoring 70 runs off 29 balls, including a rapid 21-ball fifty – the second-fastest in women’s one-day international history. Matthews also played a significant role against Scotland earlier, scoring an unbeaten century and taking four wickets, although the team still suffered a decisive defeat.

Meanwhile, Pakistan smoothly progressed through the qualifiers by winning all their matches. With an impressive all-round performance, Pakistan comfortably secured their place in the World Cup, further solidifying their position as a formidable team in women’s cricket.

The ICC has announced a hybrid hosting model for Pakistan’s World Cup matches, adding an intriguing aspect to the tournament’s structure. With Pakistan also set to host the women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, the nation is increasingly positioned as a central figure in women’s cricket.

As the women’s cricket world prepares for the World Cup, the focus will be on the competitive edge each qualified team brings to the field, alongside the potential surprises that might arise throughout the tournament.