The ICC has announced a modified schedule for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, which will see Navi Mumbai as one of the five venues for the eight-team event. This change results from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru being unavailable. Navi Mumbai's DY Patil stadium will host up to five fixtures (Lord's & Oval) - three league-stage matches, a semi-final, and possibly the final on November 2.

The tournament dates (September 30 - November 2) will not change, and the other venues - ACA stadium (Guwahati), Holkar Stadium (Indore), ACA-VDCA stadium (Visakhapatnam,) and R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo, Sri Lanka), remain unchanged.

ICC chairman Jay Shah regarding the change

ICC Chairman Jay Shah was upbeat about the new destination for women's cricket going forward: "In the past few years Navi Mumbai has shaped into a real home for women's cricket, both in terms of support it has garnered during international matches and the exciting atmosphere present during the matches of the Women's Premier League that seriously uplift the players and attract so many fans. I believe the atmosphere in Navi Mumbai will match the excitement of the larger matches of ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as we bring the tournament back to India after 12 years. "Unfortunately, we were forced to change the venue; however, the tournament will be an important celebration of the women's game to connect new fans."

ALSO SEE: Bangladesh leaves no stone unturned ahead of Women’s World Cup 2025

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 – Full Schedule

League Stage Fixtures

Knockout Stage

Warm-up Matches

Bangladesh is following all avenues it can in order to make an impact at the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka on September 30.

This will be only Bangladesh’s second appearance at a Women’s World Cup (after their debut at New Zealand in 2022, where they had a single win). In order to surpass their last success, the team has been preparing for this WC with mixed training camps, practice matches, and match-scenario drills to better players’ skills and mindset.

At present, a number of players competing for the World Cup have played in the recent three-team Challenge Cup tournament in Savar before the entire squad relocates to Sylhet in early September. In Sylhet, the players will attend a nine-day training camp with a focus on three practice matches under day-night conditions that will be crucial as all seven group matches for Bangladesh in this year’s tournament will be day-night matches.

Chief selector Sazzad Ahmed Shipon reiterated the necessity of replicating World Cup scenarios as accurately as possible. “The girls will have a six-day break following the Challenge Cup. After that, we are taking the team to Sylhet for a nine-day practice camp. We will have three practice matches under lights, and there will be match scenarios too,” Shipon told The Daily Star.

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Nigar Sultana Joty’s side blends experience and preparation as they look to surpass their 2022 debut

After Sylhet, the squad will then return to Dhaka and continue under lights again before departing for Colombo, where they will play warm-up matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka ahead of their October 2 World Cup opener against Pakistan.

Captain Nigar Sultana Joty will lead the campaign again after Bangladesh's phenomenal advancement of the game in women's cricket recently. The team hopes to build on previous performances as they have experienced players like Fargana Hoque, while aiming for consistency and resilience.

With camp organization, hard practice matches, and a plan of action, Bangladesh is giving itself every opportunity to rise on the world stage. Their journey from New Zealand 2022 to India and Sri Lanka 2025 is one of self-belief, preparation, and a burning desire to prove they are eligible to be counted among the elite.

Many cricket fans were stunned on Wednesday (August 20) while not see the names of two experienced Indian cricketers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings. There is a latest development where the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also revealed the reason.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both Indian cricketers, have already retired from the T20I and Test cricket formats. However, they are still officially active in the ODI format. Just like the other formats, Kohli was the previous captain of the Indian ODI team before the present leader Rohit Sharma. 

In the ODI cricket history, Rohit is the 10th leading run-scorer, and Kohli is the third most run-scorer. In the top 10 present ODI batting rankings, there are four Indians, and Rohit is in the second position, and Kohli is in the fourth place. However, on Wednesday, both Kohli and Rohit were briefly missing from the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings. ICC reacted quickly as the ranking was updated with their names. 

There was an error

Later, an ICC spokesperson admitted that it was a technical glitch that was fixed quickly. The spokesperson told Hindustan Times, “There was an error in our rankings tables today, but it has been rectified.”

[WATCH] Should India-Pakistan clash happen in Asia Cup 2025? Former Pakistan captain opines

Kohli and Rohit last played in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played for India during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which was won by the Men in Blues under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. India remained unbeaten in that tournament. Kohli was the fifth leading run-scorer in the tournament with 218 runs in five innings (average 54.50), including one century and one half-century. Meanwhile, Rohit was the 11th most run-scorer in the tournament with 180 runs in five innings, while the opener won the Player of the Match award in the Final for scoring 76 off 83 balls against New Zealand in the successful 252-run chase. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has set up a working group to discuss the future of the Test format as it looks forward to introducing the two-tier system in the future. However, this won’t be that easy, given how the smaller nations won’t find much room to improve their skills if they keep playing against the weaker sides.

Moreover, if someone on the traditional sides gets down to the second layer and the top sides remain at the top, then it will create an issue to arrange the marquee series between them, including the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Cricket Australia CEO, Todd Greenberg, wants to prioritize quality over quantity.

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“Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe. I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK. We're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket.” Greenberg expressed during a recent interaction on the BBC.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg warns ICC over future of Test cricket

The success of the five-match Test series between England and India and Australia vs India was excellent, while on the other hand, it is expected to remain the same for the Ashes 2025/26, which will get underway in Australia in 100 days and will surely get greater investment.

“We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something and has jeopardy. That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and profitable as it is - because it means something.” Greenberg noted that questions have been raised after the West Indies side was rolled over for 27 runs against Australia during the Jamaica pink-ball Test, while Zimbabwe lost all four of their Tests at home against South Africa and New Zealand.

The growth of the shortest formats and the league has proved difficult for the longest format, as it offers lucrative player contracts in domestic cricket and is adding congestion to the global calendar.

After the first two T20Is between Australia and South Africa in Darwin, their batters have gained ranks among the batters. Tim David is the leading run-getter after the first couple of games as the hard-hitting batter has improved six spots to jump to the 10th position in the last ICC rankings for the T20I batters with a new career-high rating as a result. 

Cameron Green has gained six spots to 17th, while South Africa’s centurion, Dewald Brevis, has rocketed to the 21st position from outside the 100 rank. It was the highest individual score by a Protea batter as Brevis achieved the feat on his ninth T20I appearance. His team-mate, Tristan Stubbs, has gone up 12 spots to 27.

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Abhishek Sharma remains in the top position with 829 ratings, followed by Tilak Verma, who has earned the second position with 804 points. Travis Head has dropped down to the fourth position with 782 ratings after the southpaw struggled with seven runs in two innings.

Rohit Sharma jumps to number two in latest ICC ODI batters rankings

There is also some movement in ICC's latest ODI rankings. The captain of the Indian side, Rohit Sharma, has moved up to the second position, while the Test captain, Shubman Gill, has earned the top spot with 784 ratings. Babar Azam, who clubbed just 56 runs in three innings against the West Indies, drops down to the third rank while Virat Kohli stays at the fourth position.

From the two-match Test series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand, Matt Henry, who won the Player of the Series for his 16 wickets at an average of under 10, has gained one place to third overall among the Test bowlers.

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has capped off a sensational debut series as skipper by being named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2025, becoming the first male cricketer to win the award four times. Gill’s heroics in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy against England saw him edge past England captain Ben Stokes and South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for the honour.

The 25-year-old produced a staggering 567 runs at an average of 94.50 across three Tests in July, including a monumental double hundred and two centuries. His match-defining performances helped India script a famous 2–2 series draw away from home.

“This time it holds a lot more significance since it has come for my performances during my first Test series as captain,” Gill said. “The double ton in Birmingham is something I will cherish forever. The series was a learning curve for me as captain, and I’m proud of the way we fought back.”

Records Tumble in Birmingham

Gill’s crowning moment came in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he scored 269 in the first innings and followed it up with 161 in the second. His 430-run aggregate in the match is the second-highest in Test history, only behind Graham Gooch’s 456.

The Birmingham masterclass saw Gill:

• Become the first Indian captain to score a Test double century in England.
• Register the highest Test score by an Indian in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 in 1979.
• Break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the highest overseas score by an Indian batter outside Asia.

Despite low scores at Lord’s, Gill returned to form at Old Trafford, where his unbeaten 103 in the second innings salvaged a vital draw after India had lost two wickets for no score in their chase. His composed knock kept the series alive, eventually paving the way for India’s fightback to level it 2–2.

Gill finished the five-match series with 754 runs at an average of 75.40, also winning the Player of the Series award. This tally is the second-highest ever in a World Test Championship series.

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Four-Time Winner

Gill’s latest triumph adds to his previous ICC Player of the Month wins in January 2023, September 2023, and February 2025. Only Australia’s Ash Gardner and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews have matched his four-win tally, though in the women’s category.

Dunkley Takes Women’s Award

In the women’s category, England’s Sophia Dunkley claimed the honour after a strong home series against India. She scored 126 runs in three ODIs and 144 runs in four T20Is at a strike rate of 134.57, including a match-defining 83 in the first ODI at Southampton. Dunkley edged out Sophie Ecclestone and Ireland captain Gaby Lewis to win the award. 

“I am delighted to win the ICC Player of the Month award off the back of a really hard-fought series against India,” Dunkley said. “We’ll take a lot from it moving towards the ICC Women’s World Cup.”

Both winners were chosen through a combination of fan votes and a specialist panel of former players and media representatives.

In an era that has been heavily dominated by the batters, very seldom do we see the bowlers unleash hell, especially in the white-ball format. Viewers want to be thoroughly entertained and turn up in large numbers in anticipation of a high-scoring thriller. But at times, their aspirations get quashed when they see the in-form batters implode without offering a fight. And when that happens, the game gets wrapped up far too quickly, even before someone even tries to take notice of it. 

While most of these games are won mostly in a one-sided manner, we bring you the four shortest ODI fixtures that have been played between two member nations since the start of the 21st century. Interestingly, Sri Lanka have had a role to play in all four ODI fixtures as we are about to find out.

See also: Four shortest Tests played in the 21st century (in terms of balls)

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2001 – 120 balls

This ODI fixture goes down in the record books as being the shortest ODI ever to be played in the history of the game. This opening game of the LG Abans Triangular Series featured a clash between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe that lasted a paltry 120 balls in two innings combined. The Zimbabwean batters were all at sea as none of them, apart from Stuart Carlisle (16 off 35), could get to double figures. The Zimbabwean innings folded in less than 90 minutes as Chaminda Vass wreaked havoc by picking 8-19 to derail Zimbabwe for just 38, which at the time was Zimbabwe's lowest Test score. As one could expect, Zimbabwe hardly had a chance with the ball as Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu quickly raced out of the blocks to complete the run chase in only 4.2 overs. 

India vs Sri Lanka, 2023 – 129 balls

The 2023 Asia Cup Final ended in an absolute disaster for the home side as Sri Lanka were annihilated by India. The final was staged at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Mohammed Siraj unleashed sheer carnage at the Lankan batters, who were simply not prepared on that day to face the unprecedented onslaught from the speedster. He ran through the fragile Lankan batting lineup like a raging fire and bagged his career-best ODI figures of 6-21 to sink Sri Lanka for just 50. The Sri Lankan innings only lasted a little over 15 overs, with Kusal Mendis being the top run getter with 17 runs to his name. India did not waste any time with the bat and chased down the target in only 6.1 overs without losing a wicket. The entire ODI game lasted 129 balls, thus making it the second shortest ODI ever and the shortest ODI final by balls bowled.

Sri Lanka vs Canada, 2003 – 140 balls

In the 18th fixture of the 2003 ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka crushed the minnows Canada by nine wickets at Boland Park in Paarl, making it the third shortest ODI with just 140 balls bowled. The underrated Prabath Nissanka had a stellar outing in this game, picking up 4-12 while Vaas also got into the act, accounting for three scalps to obliterate Canada for 36 in 18.4 overs. The Lankan batters hardly broke a sweat as the target was chased down inside the fifth over with more than 270 balls to spare. All in all, the game took less than two hours to get wrapped up. 

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2004 – 164 balls

This infamous ODI saw Zimbabwe stoop to a new low as they were bowled out for just 35 runs. In the process, they also bagged the record for scoring the lowest-ever ODI score. The pressure from the Lankan quicks was relentless as the Zimbabwean innings lasted only 18 overs. Chaminda Vaas starred with the ball and picked up four wickets and four maidens in his nine overs. Farvez Maharoof, the man on debut, also returned impressive figures of 3-3 in his three overs, while Dilhara Fernando accounted for the remaining two wickets to sink Zimbabwe for a shambolic total. Zimbabwe, playing with a second-string team at that time, had no answer to the sheer brilliance from the Lankan bowlers, with Dion Ebrahim emerging as the top run scorer with only seven runs to his name. Sri Lanka were in no mood to hang around with the bat and lost just one wicket before getting to their target with Saman Jayantha, staying unbeaten on 28 till the end. 

Test cricket, also known as the longest format of the game, is meant to last for a maximum of five days. Played across five long days, each of which comprises three two-hour-long sessions, this format can be a real test of resilience and character for the players involved. While most Tests traditionally ended within 3-4 days, some see a far more premature ending. Not to mention, the despair that engulfs the fans as they have their tickets booked for the latter stages of the game, only for it to end within a short span of 1-2 days. 

While it is not always a good thing for the Tests to get over this early, here are the four shortest Tests that have lasted fewer than 900 balls in the 21st century.

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India vs South Africa 2024, Cape Town (642 balls)

This Test match holds the record for being the shortest Test match in the history of the game. This game lasted only a meager 642 balls and was over in just a little over a day. On a difficult, seam-friendly deck, South Africa were decimated in their first innings for just 55 as Mohammed Siraj ran riot with the ball, picking up impressive figures of 6-15. On the contrary, India made a much better start with the bat and seemed to be cruising along nicely at 153-4. But then, an expected collapse ensued, which no one would have hardly expected in their wildest dreams.

India went on to lose six wickets without a run and went from 153-4 to 153-10 in almost the blink of an eye. By stumps on day one, South Africa were reduced to 62-3 and still trailed by 36 runs. Aiden Markram slammed a valiant century to take South Africa's score to 176 on day two. But his effort proved to be insufficient as South Africa were only able to set a modest target of 79. India chased down the target relatively quickly inside 12 overs and went on to register a series-levelling win. In the aftermath of the game, ICC rated the Newlands pitch as "unsatisfactory".

India vs England 2021, Ahmedabad (842 balls)

This day/night Test match was played in the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad which had just been renovated ahead of this marquee clash. This was also the first D/N Test between the two sides as well. Unfortunately, this historic Test match did not pan out as planned. Batters from both teams struggled to operate on the rank turner. England's first innings saw a momentary resistance from Zak Crawley, who smashed a breezy 53 (84). But the introduction of spinners triggered an imminent collapse. Axar Patel emerged as the chief destroyer for India, bagging figures of 6-38 while Ravi Ashwin also played his part, picking 3-26 to sink England for 112.

India responded patiently with the bat and ended day one on a high by posting 99 for the loss of only three wickets. Before the start of day two, the home side was poised to achieve a massive first innings lead. But then is when things took a turn for the worse. Joe Root surprisingly went on to register his maiden Test five-fer, and with added support from Jack Leach, England were able to bounce back and restrict India to 145 just before Tea. However, England couldn't take inspiration from Root's magnificent exploits with the ball and were bundled out for just 81 in the second innings. The target was chased down in less than eight overs, and the entire test match came to a close in a little over 1.5 days with 842 deliveries bowled. Despite heightened criticism from the cricket pundits regarding the state of the pitch, the ICC came to the rescue of the home side and deemed the pitch "satisfactory".

Australia vs South Africa 2022, Brisbane (866 balls)    

The Brisbane Test between Australia and South Africa ended on a one-sided note with the home side wrapping things up in just a matter of two days. The Test lasted only 866 balls, making it the second-shortest Test ever to be played on Australian soil. On a pitch that produced an awkward bounce, a staggering 15 wickets fell on day one as South Africa were bowled out for 152. In response, Australia lost half their side for just 145 before the call of stumps on day one. Then on day two, Australia were able to get past South Africa's 152 and secure a vital lead of 66 runs before getting bundled out for 215. 

But the problems for batters from either side existed. South Africa hardly got going with the bat in the second innings as Pat Cummins troubled the Proteas batters immensely with his variable bounce and registered a magnificent Test five-fer to skittle the visitors cheaply for 99. Tasked with chasing a paltry score of 34, Australia went on to lose four wickets, and the game was wrapped up during the dying minutes of day two's play. Following the conclusion of the game, the ICC slammed the Gabba pitch and deemed it to be too unsafe for play. As a consequence, the Gabba pitch received a "below average" rating, while Richie Richardson, who was in charge as a match referee for that game, felt that the pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. 

Pakistan vs Australia 2002, Sharjah (893 balls)  

A Test that was played in the scorching Sharjah heat, Pakistan were blown away cheaply in what turned out to be one of the quickest finishes of the early 2000s. The Test match lasted only 893 balls as Australia flexed their muscles to punish Pakistan mercilessly for two straight days. They ran Pakistan ragged on the field in both innings combined. Pakistan were a no-show with the bat in the first innings and were floored for a shocking 59, with Shane Warner emerging as the destroyer-in-chief with figures of 4-11 in his 11-over spell. In response, Matthew Hayden led the way for Australia with a magnificent ton (119). But Saqlain Mushtaq was able to get the better of the Aussies eventually and restricted them to 310.

Wiping out a deficit of 251 runs was always going to be a challenge. But only a select few expected Pakistan to surrender cheaply in the second innings. Their fortunes did not change much in the second innings as they were bundled out for 53. Warne once again went rampant with the ball and registered a four-fer to hand Australia a massive win by an innings and 198 runs. Imran Nazir and Misbah ul Haq were the only two Pakistani batters to make it to double figures in that innings. As records would have it, this is currently Pakistan's second-lowest score in Test cricket. 

Kagiso Rabada is urging South Africa to move beyond the euphoria of their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) triumph and focus on adding more silverware to the trophy cabinet. The pace spearhead was instrumental in the Proteas’ historic victory over Australia at Lord’s in June, claiming nine wickets in the final to end the country’s long drought in major ICC tournaments.

“It was special, and I’ve done so many interviews on that since,” Rabada said ahead of South Africa’s limited-overs series in Australia. “I think it’s time to move on. We’ll never forget that as a team, and South Africa won’t either, but now the show moves on.”

That next chapter begins in Darwin on Sunday, with the first of three T20Is against Australia, followed by three ODIs later this month. Rabada, 30, returns to action after a lengthy break since the WTC final, refreshed and ready to lead the attack. “Thankfully, I’ve had quite a long break. Maintenance work has been important because the cricket schedule is packed,” he explained.

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Rabada Eyes Future Glory, Embraces Australia Rivalry, and Mentors Next Generation

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup being in India and Sri Lanka next year and the 2027 ODI World Cup being co-hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, Rabada views the forthcoming matches as a valuable opportunity to gain experience. "The mindset is going to be changed a bit now. We're not worried about anything," he said.

Rabada also savours the fact that they are always up against Australia, who seem to make us play our best. “It’s always hard cricket, good cricket. They are always in our face, and I think we like it,” he said, smiling.

As somebody who is now considered quite senior in the team, Rabada will also help others, such as teenage fast-bowling talent Kwena Maphaka." I feel obliged to mentor them. Of course, they will learn through their own experiences; we just act as a sounding board for them." For Rabada, the warning is clear: enjoy the past but focus ahead on the next trophy.

The island of Jersey is going to hold an important leg of the 2024–2026 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League in Group A, as the nations will compete in the second round of matches towards the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The event is to coincide with the tournament taking place in August 2025, and will host 15 List A matches over two weeks of cricket, at two beautiful venues, Grainville Cricket Ground in St Saviour and Farmers Cricket Club Ground in St Martin. The competing nations, Denmark, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea and Qatar, will compete for the top positions in the table, as they aim towards the World Cup, over the two-week period of cricket.

A Tournament with Stakes

This round of Challenge League A is significant, as we reach the halfway stage of the tournament. Only the one team that finishes at the top of the group will qualify for the next round of FIFA World Cup qualification, so every match is important in determining who emerges as the group leader. Jersey will be hoping to utilise local knowledge of the pitches and the support of the home crowd. The competition remains stiff, though, with PNG, Kenya and Denmark also putting together strong teams.

Full Schedule – 2025 Jersey Challenge League A

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Points Table – League A (as of 5 October 2024)

The Road Ahead

As each match carries List A status, players will be even more motivated to improve their individual stats while contributing to their team's qualification journey. There are very few things which can motivate performance as much as rankings and stats, and this tournament signifies another growing chapter for Associate cricket in which every player is looking to step onto the world stage. Jersey is ready. The teams are ready. And the road to the World Cup just got a little bit hotter.