India Will Be Hoping to Repeat as Women’s Under-19 T20 Champions

LONDON, CMC – West Indies’ Under-19 women’s team will bowl off their 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against defending champions India when the tournament gets underway next January.

On Sunday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the tournament, which will feature 16 teams and run from January 18 to February 2, 2025, in Malaysia.

Malaysia will be the sole host of the World Cup following Thailand’s withdrawal as co-host.

The West Indies, who have been drawn in Group A alongside the defending champs, Sri Lanka, and hosts Malaysia, will face India on January 19. Earlier in the day, hosts Malaysia will face Sri Lanka at Bayuemas Oval.

The second edition of the competition follows a successful inauguration in South Africa in 2023. In a thrilling final, India beat England by seven wickets to be crowned the first-ever winners.

It will be the hosts, Malaysia’s first appearance in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, and Samoa’s first in an ICC World Cup event.

Group B will feature England, Pakistan, Ireland, and the USA; Group C includes New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa, and a qualifier from Africa, while Group D includes Australia, Bangladesh, Scotland, and a qualifier from Asia.

The format will see teams progressing from the Group stages to enter the Super Six stage starting on January 25, where two groups of six teams will compete to determine the semi-finalists and the subsequent finalists.

If India qualifies for the semi-finals, they will play Semi-Final 2 on January 31.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to announce the schedule for the second edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will bring an ICC event of this stature to Malaysia for the first time since the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2008.

“This special event for the ICC forms an important part of our Global Growth Strategy of raising the profile of women’s cricket and further growing the game worldwide. It is also a unique opportunity to introduce our vast global audiences to the sport’s future stars,” Allardice said.

“We look forward to building on the success from the foundation laid at the inaugural event in South Africa in 2023. We wish all the teams the best of luck in their preparation and to the Malaysian Cricket Association in organizing the event.”

Dinesh Muthuraman, the Host Tournament Director for the ICC U19 World Cup 2025, said she had seen an upsurge in women’s cricket worldwide.

“Women’s cricket is experiencing unprecedented growth in Malaysia and worldwide. We are fully confident that this World Cup will further accelerate that momentum, leading to significant developments in the sport, especially for women’s cricket,” she said.

Fixtures:

January 18: Australia v Scotland, 10:30 am, UKM YSD Oval
January 18: England v Ireland, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, Johor
January 18: Samoa v Africa Qualifier, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 18: Bangladesh v Asia Qualifier, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD Oval
January 18: Pakistan v USA, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, Johor
January 18: New Zealand v South Africa, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 19: Sri Lanka v Malaysia, 10:30 am, Bayuemas Oval
January 19: India v West Indies, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval
January 20: Australia v Bangladesh, 10:30 am, UKM YSD Oval
January 20: Ireland v USA, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, Johor
January 20: New Zealand v Africa Qualifier, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 20: Scotland v Asia Qualifier, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD Oval
January 20: England v Pakistan, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, Johor
January 20: South Africa v Samoa, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 21: West Indies v Sri Lanka, 10:30 am, Bayuemas Oval
January 21: India v Malaysia, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval
January 22: Bangladesh v Scotland, 10:30 am, UKM YSD Oval
January 22: England v USA, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, Johor
January 22: New Zealand v Samoa, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 22: Australia v Asia Qualifier, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD Oval
January 22: Pakistan v Ireland, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, Johor
January 22: South Africa v Africa Qualifier, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 23: Malaysia v West Indies, 10:30 am, Bayuemas Oval
January 23: India v Sri Lanka, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval
January 24: B4 v C4, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, Johor
January 24: A4 v D4, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, Johor
January 25: Super Six – B2 v C3, 10:30 am, UKM YSD Oval
January 25: Super Six – B1 v C2, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 25: Super Six – A3 v D1, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD Oval
January 25: Super Six – C1 v B3, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 26: Super Six – A2 v D3, 10:30 am, Bayuemas Oval
January 26: Super Six – A1 v D2, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval
January 27: Super Six – B1 v C3, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 28: Super Six – A3 v D2, 10:30 am, Bayuemas Oval
January 28: Super Six – C1 v B2, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)
January 28: Super Six – A1 v D3, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval
January 29: Super Six – C2 v B3, 10:30 am, UKM YSD Oval
January 29: Super Six – A2 v D1, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD Oval
January 31: Semi-Final 1, 10:30 am, Bayuemas Oval
January 31: Semi-Final 2, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval
February 2: Final, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval

All games are as per local time

February 1 is a reserve day for the semi-finals, and February 3 is a reserve day for the final.

Conclusion:

The 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup is expected to be a thrilling tournament, with several teams looking to make a strong statement. With the defending champions, India, set to face off against the West Indies, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter.

FAQs:

When and where will the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup take place?
The tournament will take place from January 18 to February 2, 2025, in Malaysia.
Who will be participating in the tournament?
A total of 16 teams will be participating in the tournament, including defending champions India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and hosts Malaysia.
What is the format of the tournament?
The tournament will feature group stages, followed by a Super Six stage, and ultimately, the semi-finals and final.
Who is the host tournament director for the ICC U19 World Cup 2025?
Dinesh Muthuraman is the host tournament director for the ICC U19 World Cup 2025.