In the high-stakes world of international cricket, where rivalries fuel passion and drive viewership, the India-Pakistan matchup stands as an unparalleled spectacle. Yet, as the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 approaches—set to kick off on September 29 in a hybrid hosting model between India and Sri Lanka—the shadow of political maneuvering looms large, dimming the sport’s vibrancy for women athletes. India’s longstanding policy of avoiding bilateral engagements with Pakistan, rooted in geopolitical tensions, has extended to women’s cricket, leading to neutral venues, disrupted tournaments, and a broader stagnation in the game’s growth.
The Political Playbook:
At the heart of the issue is India’s reluctance to engage Pakistan in cricket on Pakistani soil or, increasingly, even in India-hosted events without safeguards. This policy, intensified since the 2008 Mumbai attacks and no bilateral series since 2013, has spilled over from men’s to women’s cricket. As per a September 4, 2025, update from ESPNcricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has maintained a “no-play” approach in Pakistan, citing security concerns, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retaliated by refusing to send its women’s team to India for the 2025 World Cup. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reiterated this on April 19, 2025, stating the team would not travel, demanding neutral venues like Dubai or Sri Lanka.
This tit-for-tat has “dulled” women’s cricket in several ways. First, it deprives fans of organic, high-intensity rivalries that could elevate the profile of female players. The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final, where Sri Lanka upset India, drew record viewership, but imagine the boost if an India-Pakistan showdown had headlined it without political caveats. According to ICC data released on August 22, 2025, women’s cricket viewership surged 25% globally in 2024, yet in Asia—home to 60% of the sport’s fans—political barriers limit cross-border exposure. Analysts from The Guardian’s August 25, 2025, report argue that hybrid models, while pragmatic, create logistical nightmares, reducing home advantage and fan turnout, ultimately stunting grassroots development.
From an economic angle, the BCCI’s influence as cricket’s financial powerhouse amplifies the impact. With a $2.25 billion IPL media rights deal in 2025 (per Bloomberg), India’s leverage often forces ICC concessions, like shifting Pakistan’s World Cup matches to Sri Lanka. This, per a September 3, 2025, Al Jazeera analysis, disadvantages smaller boards like PCB, which miss out on hosting revenue—estimated at $50 million for a full tournament—hindering investments in women’s programs. Pakistan’s women’s team, despite qualifying emphatically for the World Cup by winning all five qualifiers in April 2025, faces morale dips from such exclusions, as highlighted in player interviews on SI.com.
On the flip side, some defend India’s position as a necessary safeguard amid ongoing border tensions, including the August 2025 Pahalgam attack. Harbhajan Singh’s August 13, 2025, call to boycott Pakistan in the Asia Cup (men’s) echoes sentiments that politics shouldn’t compromise safety. However, critics on platforms like Reddit (July 30, 2025, threads) argue this selectively applies to women’s cricket, where threats are arguably lower, yet the game suffers disproportionately.
Pakistan and India
No, but their highly anticipated clash will indeed unfold in Sri Lanka. The Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 schedule, revised on August 22, 2025, by the ICC, places the India vs Pakistan group-stage match on October 5 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, starting at 3:00 PM IST. The tournament opener is India vs Sri Lanka on September 30 in Guwahati, India, but Pakistan’s entire campaign—including potential semifinals—has been relocated to Sri Lanka under the hybrid model. This ensures no Pakistan matches occur in India, addressing PCB’s boycott threat announced in April 2025.
This setup, while averting a crisis, underscores the “dulling” effect: The rivalry loses its electric atmosphere without home crowds. As per a June 18, 2025, Al Jazeera report, similar accommodations for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup (hosted by England) confirm India-Pakistan in the same group, but without venue shifts yet specified.
Cricket World
The India-Pakistan divide fractures cricket’s global ecosystem, particularly harming women’s cricket, which relies on rivalries for momentum. Firstly, it reduces match frequency: No bilateral women’s series since 2013 means fewer high-profile games, stalling player development. Pakistan’s Gull Feroza, in an April 28, 2025, SI.com interview, expressed frustration over missed opportunities, noting how such politics “undermine our progress.”
Economically, divisions erode revenue. The ICC’s $13.88 million prize pool for the 2025 World Cup (announced September 4, 2025) is a boon, but hybrid models inflate costs—logistics alone could add $10 million, per ESPN estimates—diverting funds from women’s leagues like the WPL or Pakistan’s Super League. Fan engagement suffers too: A Forbes October 7, 2024, piece (relevant to ongoing trends) highlights how women’s matches between the rivals “fly the flag for diplomacy,” drawing 100 million+ viewers, but politics caps this potential.
Broader impacts include talent drain and inequality. Emerging players in Pakistan face limited international exposure, widening the gap with powerhouses like India and Australia. X posts from users like @Gerontius1 (March 1, 2025) question double standards, noting England’s boycott of Afghanistan over women’s rights yet tolerance for India-Pakistan politics. Overall, this division fragments cricket’s unity, slowing its push toward gender parity—women’s cricket grew 15% in participation in 2024 (ICC data), but politics could halve that in Asia.
Where Will the Final Be Held?
The final is slated for November 2, 2025, with venues contingent on participants due to the hybrid model. As per the ICC’s August 22, 2025, revised schedule, it’s earmarked for either Colombo (Sri Lanka) or Navi Mumbai (India). If Pakistan advances—unlikely but possible given their qualifier dominance—the final would shift to Colombo to honor the neutral venue agreement. ESPNcricinfo’s August 21, 2025, report confirms Mullanpur (India) was initially floated but adjusted for such scenarios. This mirrors the 2025 Champions Trophy (men’s), where India-Pakistan finals would move to Dubai.
Without this flexibility, Pakistan might forfeit, as threatened in April 2025 qualifiers, further tarnishing the tournament’s integrity.
Can Women’s Cricket Rise Above Politics?
As women’s cricket surges—evidenced by the WPL’s $572 million valuation in 2025 (per Hindustan Times)—political maneuvering risks capping its potential. Neutral venues may preserve rivalries, but true growth demands depoliticization. The 2025 World Cup, with tickets on sale since September 4 (per ESPN), offers a chance to refocus on the athletes. Yet, until boards prioritize sport over statecraft, the game remains dulled, depriving stars like Harmanpreet Kaur and Nida Dar of their full stage.
