The exciting ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25 has reached its conclusion, confirming the six teams that have achieved direct qualification for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Australia topped the championship with a commanding 39 points, closely followed by India, which secured second place with 37 points. Rounding out the list are England (32), South Africa (25), Sri Lanka (22), and New Zealand (21), all of whom have earned automatic qualification. Smriti Mandhana was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 1,358 runs across 24 innings, while Deepti Sharma led in wicket-taking with 42 dismissals in 23 innings.
New Zealand managed to secure their spot by edging out Bangladesh on points, both teams finishing with 21. New Zealand’s superior record of nine wins compared to Bangladesh’s eight was crucial in this ten-team tournament, where each team competed in eight three-match series, split evenly between home and away. Bangladesh, alongside West Indies (18 points), Pakistan (17 points), and Ireland (8 points), will now need to go through the Qualifier to make their World Cup ambitions a reality.
Australia’s Unmatched Dominance
The world champions have once again exhibited their overwhelming superiority, securing their third consecutive ICC Women’s Championship title. With 39 points from 24 matches, they remained unbeaten throughout. Their home series included a dominating 3-0 win against India, a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan, a 2-1 victory against South Africa, and a 2-0 success against the West Indies. They also performed strongly away, achieving 3-0 sweeps over Bangladesh and Ireland, 2-0 wins against New Zealand and Ireland, although they did face a single 1-2 series loss to England. Australia’s consistency cements their status as the team to beat heading into the World Cup.
India’s Steadfast Performances
India secured second place with 37 points, showcasing strong performances both at home and on the road. At home, they achieved 3-0 victories against Ireland, South Africa, and the West Indies, along with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. On foreign soil, they met challenges with 3-0 victories against England and Sri Lanka, a 1-1 tie against Bangladesh, although they did suffer a 3-0 loss to Australia. With their World Cup host status confirmed, these matches served as essential preparation for Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad.
England’s Fighting Spirit
England concluded their campaign with 32 points, demonstrating resilience and the ability to step up under pressure. Domestically, they secured a 2-1 series win against Australia, achieved 2-0 victories over Pakistan and Sri Lanka, despite suffering a 0-3 loss to India. Their away performances were similarly commendable, achieving 2-1 series victories against Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa, along with a clean 3-0 sweep of the West Indies. These results reaffirm England’s position as formidable challengers for the World Cup.
South Africa’s Rollercoaster Campaign
South Africa wrapped up their campaign with 25 points, securing a direct qualification spot. They achieved 2-1 series wins against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home, drew 1-1 with Sri Lanka, but faced a 1-2 loss to England. Away from home, they experienced a 3-0 defeat against India, a 2-1 loss to Australia, a 1-2 series defeat to Pakistan, but secured a significant 3-0 win against Ireland. Despite some ups and downs, South Africa’s resilience will be pivotal for the World Cup.
Sri Lanka Secures Qualification
With 22 points, Sri Lanka secured the fifth position, ensuring their spot in the World Cup. At home, they achieved a 1-0 win against Bangladesh, swept the West Indies 3-0, took a series 2-1 against New Zealand, but lost 0-3 to India. Their away campaign faced challenges, including 2-1 series losses to Ireland and Pakistan, a 2-0 defeat to England, and a 1-1 tie with South Africa. Despite the tough journey, Sri Lanka secured pivotal victories when it mattered most.
New Zealand’s Narrow Escape
New Zealand narrowly claimed the final direct qualification spot with 21 points, just ahead of Bangladesh. At home, their campaign included a 0-2 loss to Australia, a 1-2 defeat to England, a 2-1 win against Pakistan, and a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh. On the road, they faced 2-1 series losses to India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, but did manage to secure a 1-2 series win against the West Indies. Their path was fraught with challenges, yet they did enough to secure their World Cup qualification.
The Road to the Qualifier
Bangladesh, West Indies, Pakistan, and Ireland will now join Scotland and Thailand in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, where two crucial spots are available. The Qualifier is set to be a fierce competition as these teams seek to secure their places in the prestigious tournament.
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