A massive controversial moment during the IND-W vs PAK-W ICC Women's World Cup 2025 match when, after replay, the third umpire declared Pakistan Women's team opener Muneeba Ali run out. The Pakistan cricket team was visibly left unhappy with the decision. 

The India and Pakistan women's cricket teams confront each other in a highly anticipated ODI World Cup match. Maintaining the 'no handshake' policy, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur denied a handshake with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana after the toss. The first inning of the match was full of thrilling moments, followed by the second inning's controversial run-out decision by the third umpire. 

India went to bat first at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and scored 247 runs in 50 overs after losing all ten wickets. Pakistan bowlers did everything to push India batters behind. A quick-fire 35 off 20 from Richa Ghosh helped India to achieve the competitive total. Pakistan needed 248 runs to win the match. 

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Why is the run-out controversial?

During the last ball of the 4th over of the second innings, the controversial moment happened. Muneeba Ali missed a full-length delivery from Kranti Gaud with the bat. The ball hit the pad and went towards the second slip. Indian cricketers appealed loudly for an LBW. By then, Deepti Sharma picks up the ball and hits the stumps at the batter's end. After a failed LBW shout, it was then an application for a run-out. The field umpire signaled for the reply. 

@cricketaakash - The wicket is about to come,

After that a wicket came in the next over.

What a prediction sir, I really salute you.

Kranti Gaud to Muneeba Ali, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!#INDWvPAKW #ICCWomensWorldCup2025 pic.twitter.com/YPvzAS0KL1

— Asia Voice 🎤 (@Asianewss) October 5, 2025

The replay showed that Muneeba first grounded her bat, but then, when the ball hit the stumps, she lifted her bat up from the ground. The third umpire decided to give it an out, which caused another controversial moment during an India vs Pakistan match.

Former Australia captain Meg Lanning has lavished praise on India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, a previous member of the Australian national team, for her leadership skills and for her innings in the 2017 World Cup semi-final match. Lanning said that Kaur was a captain who was able to get results herself or as a captain by the way she moved her team around the ground, and that it was "always a good challenge" to face a team with Kaur as captain.

On her memories of facing Kaur in the 2017 semi-final match in Derby after Kaur scored an unreal 171 not out, Lanning clearly remembered every plan Australia tried; Kaur had an answer. "We had every plan, but she had an answer to it," Lanning reiterated the assistance felt on the ground during that day, noting Kaur's autos are where we met when." "Once Harman got going, we couldn't do anything; she was just hitting every ball we bowled for 4." The innings was exceptional and dismantled the Australian attack at the same time, raising Kaur's stature as one of the meanest competitors in women's cricket.

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Lanning on Kaur’s leadership and World Cup challenge

As they look ahead to the challenges that await Kaur and the Indian team while hosting the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, Lanning reflected on the pressures surrounding the current moment. Drawing on her own experience of leading Australia for their home World Cup, Lanning noted the pressure that comes with it (really good pressure) and that being in the spotlight comes with benefits, as a home World Cup is the best, as the home fans backing you and being able to draw energy and motivation from them is also really special. 

The competitive nature of their leadership rivalry has been on display in the Women's Premier League (WPL) as well. In the 2023 final, Lanning captained the Delhi Capitals and Kaur captained the Mumbai Indians. Lanning admitted that the Mumbai squad had "a lot of great players" and was a great challenge for her team. While at the same time, Lanning found what she believed was a strong opening partnership with Shafali Verma as the best opening partnership in the tournament! Ultimately, though, it was Kaur's Mumbai Indians who won the match, claiming the first WPL title.

For her part, Harmanpreet has also given the highest regard for Lanning's captaincy, describing Lanning's competitiveness and ability to lead Australia and win multiple ICC trophies with Australia. Both leaders acknowledge the respect they have for each other, but also that they are still both building a legacy as leaders of women's cricket.

The Women’s World Cup is just days away, with excitement building for the premier 50-over event. The Women’s World Cup kicks off on September 30 with the opening match between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati. Fans are eager to witness high-quality cricket as the best teams from around the world compete for the prestigious title.

The ICC confirmed that renowned singer Shreya Ghoshal will grace the Women’s World Cup opening ceremony with a live performance, adding glamour and excitement to the event. Scheduled at the ACA Stadium, the event promises a vibrant kickoff, featuring music, entertainment, and celebrations to set an exciting atmosphere as the tournament officially begins.

However, not all teams will be part of the festivities. As reported by Geo News, Pakistan has decided to skip the opening ceremony. Furthermore, their skipper, Fatima Sana, will not travel to India, meaning the team will also miss the traditional captain’s photoshoot.

See Also: 3 key reasons India must back Sanju Samson as finisher in Asia Cup 2025

Pakistan Women’s Skipper to Skip the Opening Ceremony:

A spectacular opening ceremony is planned ahead of the tournament’s first match, bringing together all participating teams. Traditionally, the event includes a joint press conference and a trophy photoshoot with the captains, offering fans a chance to see the leaders of each team together. It serves as a formal launch for the tournament and adds excitement ahead of the matches.

However, Geo News reports that Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, will not travel to India for the event. This decision follows the “fusion formula” set for the tournament, which ensures that neither India nor Pakistan will cross the border for any ICC event over the next three years. As a result, Pakistan will skip the opening ceremony and related team activities in India.

The Women’s World Cup is set to take place across India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan hosting all its games in Colombo. The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for October 5 in Colombo, ensuring the rivalry continues despite the tournament’s split venues.

Should Pakistan advance to the semi-finals or final of the Women’s World Cup, those matches will take place at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. The team will kick off their tournament journey with a clash against Bangladesh on October 2, aiming to make a strong start in the competition.

The agreement was established ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, after India declined to visit Pakistan for the eight-team event, leading to the current arrangement preventing cross-border travel between the two teams for upcoming ICC tournaments.

Shreya Ghoshal to Headline World Cup Opening Ceremony:

Shreya Ghoshal has also lent her voice to the official anthem of the Women’s World Cup, titled ‘Bring It Home’. She will perform live at the opening ceremony, bringing music that celebrates the energy, passion, and togetherness of women’s cricket on the global stage. Fans can look forward to a memorable start to the tournament with her performance.

The Women’s World Cup, returning to India after 12 years, will be held from September 30 to November 2 this year. The event promises thrilling matches as the top teams from across the globe compete for the prestigious title.

The countdown has officially started for the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup 2025. In the presence of Jay Shah, Devajit Saikia, Yuvraj Singh, Harmanpreet, and Smriti Mandhana, the prestigious ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 Trophy was unveiled in Mumbai. India and Sri Lanka are the two co-hosts of the tournament, where team India will be one of the favorites to win the title. 

Considering the home advantages and recent performances, the women in blue will kickstart the campaign as a hot favorite. The first match of the tournament is scheduled to start on September 30, 2025 (Tuesday), at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The hosts, India and Sri Lanka, will face off in the tournament opener, while the defending champion, Australia, will start their campaign on the following day against New Zealand at Holkar Stadium, Indore. 

The tournament will be concluded on November 2, 2025 (Sunday), at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, or the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. All the games of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 Trophy will start at 3.00 PM. The Semi Final 1 and Semi Final 2 matches will be arranged on October 29, 2025, and October 30, 2025, at Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati, or R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, respectively. 

Read More: WATCH: Jonny Bairstow hits it out of park in ongoing Men's Hundred 2025

Ahead of the World Cup, Team India will face Australia in a bilateral 3-match ODI series from September 14 to September 20. Before that, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team India won a 3-match ODI against England by 2-1. 

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.

On this day, India won the T20I World Cup after a 17-year wait. The match against South Africa in Bridgetown was filled with thrills in every fold. There was a point in the match where Aiden Markram's team was looking solid to win the silverware. But India, with multiple game changers in the playing XI, did not want to wait any longer to claim the prestigious title. Suryakumar Yadav's stunning catch, perhaps the catch of the tournament, stalled the result between two sides. India, captained by Rohit Sharma, became the champion of the 2024 ICC T20I World Cup. 

In the first innings, India was in deep trouble when a rampant Keshav Maharaj took the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in 3 balls, and Kagiso Rabada departed Suryakumar Yadav after a few deliveries. When the stage is big and matters are looking complicated, it's the perfect scenario for Virat Kohli to shine. Kohli scored 76 runs off 59 deliveries. In the later part of the innings, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube played 47- and 27-run innings, respectively, to take their team to 176 runs. 

A team with fiery batters like Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen could easily achieve the total, but Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh had their inch-perfect plans to create a castle to defend the fighting total. Pandya was on a different level on that day. The all-rounder took 3 wickets in 3 overs.

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Virat's batting and Pandya's bowling cherished crores of dream

Klaasen (52) and Miller (21) were among the dangerous batters who lost their wickets against Pandya. The moment when Klaasen was looking to shift the gears, Pandya struck. India won the match by only a 7-run margin. 

After the game, Captain Rohit Sharma heaped praise on Virat Kohli for his unforgettable contributions throughout the series. "No one was in doubt about the form of Virat, on top of his game for the last 15 years. Come the occasion, big players stand up. It is crucial to hold that end for the others to play around him. Team effort because it wasn't a wicket to bat freely. He did that perfectly; that experience all the years come together, and Axar's batting was crucial," Rohit said. 

June 25, 1983—a date when the Asian Giant was awake and the King was dethroned. It was then the biggest upset in cricket when Michael Holding departed and the mighty West Indies halted for 140 against India's 183—India won the World Cup—1983 World Cup. 

Before the final, it was like a repeat telecast of the first two World Cups when the West Indies proved their dominance and won the highest trophy of cricket back-to-back. Under Clive Lloyd's leadership, the Caribbeans, like before, cruised into the final match of '83. When India somehow managed the other spot in the final, on pen and paper the match was like between David and Goliath. 

Batting first, team India managed to get only 183 on the scoreboard in 60 overs. The fierce bowling attack of the West Indies, with Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Joel Garner, simply demolished the Indian batting line-up. The house-full Lord's Cricket Ground was ready to witness another dominating performance by the West Indies in the title-decider contest.

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Kapil Dev's catch and the wicket of Sir Vivian Richards 

Sir Viv Richards, considered as the most dangerous and hard-hitting batsman, came to bat in the crease at number three and got off to a perfect ignition. He was toying with India's medium-pace bowling lineup until Madan Lal delivered a slower one when West Indies was on 57. Richards mistimed the shot, and Captain Kapil Dev, on mid-on, took an iconic catch under pressure, keeping his head cool. With 7 boundaries and a 117.85 strike rate, Viv departed for 33. 

The defending champion still had a fair amount of chances to win the match, and by then, India got the extra self-belief they needed to pull out the greatest upset that no one saw coming. Clive Lloyd, Larry Gomes, Faoud Bacchus, Jeff Dujon... all came and went. The tiny target of 183 is registered in the history book. Mohinder Amarnath was selected for the man of the match award for his 3-wicket spell and 26 runs with the bat. 

Rohit Sharma is widely Rohit considered to be one of cricket's most stylish and vibrant batsmen. Praised for his free-flowing strokeplay and boundary-clearing capability, Rohit has been a mainstay of India's limited-overs side for many years. His six-hitting talent, particularly in the high-stakes atmosphere of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, has turned many games India's way.

As the T20 World Cup began in 2007, has been a regular feature, playing every edition a testament to his ability, fitness, and reliability. In these nine editions, Rohit has hit 50 sixes in total, the second-highest six-hitter in the history of the tournament after the West Indies' big hitter Chris Gayle.

This is a year-wise analysis of Rohit Sharma's sixes in T20 World Cups:

 ALSO SEE:'It won't be easy' - Former India skipper reflects upon chances of Rohit-Virat duo in ODI World Cup 2027

Watch the Video: 

All Rohit Sharma 50 sixes Compilation in T20I World Cup 720p50.pic.twitter.com/5obb2Wkled

— Zeref (@Techno3012) June 22, 2025

Stellar Career Batting Stats That Define Rohit Sharma

The one in 2024 was particularly special, where Rohit smashed a record 15 sixes, the most in any World Cup series. Rohit's overall batting figures even more reflect his great ability. In Tests, he has amassed 4,301 runs at 40.57, with 12 centuries. In One Day Internationals, he has more than 11,000 runs at an average of almost 49, with 32 hundreds. His T20I stats are not bad either, with 4,231 runs at a strike rate of over 140.

Aside from his batting prowess, Rohit is a powerful leader and finisher at crunch times. His composed nature and acutely intelligent cricket brain have led India through numerous key instances. His T20 World Cup record-breaking six-hitting not only thrills the audience but also solidifies his place among cricket's new legends.

"We will win 7 in a row now," Mark Waugh kept his words in the World Cup 1999. In the final, Australia simply demolished Pakistan to lift the World Cup and proved their supremacy in world cricket. 

During the preliminary stage of the game, many critics spoke against Australia, especially after their defeat against Pakistan. The match was on May 23, 1999, at Leeds. Inzamam-ul-Haq played an important 81-run knock and was selected as the best player of the match. In that contest, Australia was defeated by a 10-run margin.

On June 20, 1999, Pakistan and Australia faced each other again, this time for the title decider match at Lord's. After their previous encounter on May 23, Wasim Akram's team was confident before the final, and on the other side, pressure mounted over team Australia. 

Read More: Did You Know: Only Three Indian captains have won Test series in England, Can Shubman Gill join elite club?

Australia smashed Pakistan to show their authority

Then the captain of Australia, Mark Waugh, promised to "win 7 in a row." When the match started at Lord's, the script was flipped before anyone could notice. The road to destruction was paved by Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, and Tom Moody, ornamented by the great Shane Warne. Warne took 4 wickets, and McGrath and Moody claimed a brace each. Pakistan bundled for 132 in 39 overs.

Through this match, Australia showed how fierce they could be when they seemed most vulnerable. With such a low total, Pakistan had no option but to admit the faith, World Cup final loss in 1999. Mark Waugh remained not out for 37, Adam Gilchrist played a blistering 54-run knock off 36, Ricky Ponting scored 24, and with Mark it was Darren Lehmann who remained unbeaten and secured the title for their country. 

The upcoming edition of the ICC ODI Women's World Cup is set to be held from September 30. India, one of the favorites to win the prestigious title and the host of the tournament, will face their archrivals, Pakistan.

The date for the India vs. Pakistan women's team has been released by the International Cricket Council (ICC). As per the latest report published by ESPNcricinfo, India's fixture for the Pakistan game will be arranged at the neutral venue of R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and the match will be on the 5th. Due to the conflict between the two countries, Pakistan will play their World matches in a neutral venue.

The tournament will kick off with the match between the host, India, and Sri Lanka on September 30 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After the games with Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively, India will face Bangladesh on October 26 in Bengaluru.

Read More: ENG vs IND: Team India's close-door tactic reveals! IPL franchise shared information

On the other side, the defending champion, Australia, will start their campaign on October 1 at Indore's Holkar Stadium against New Zealand. India is hosting the women's ODI World Cup for the first time since 2013. There will be a total of 28 matches in the league phase, followed by three knockouts. Matches are set to be played at multiple venues across India, including Bengaluru, Indore, Guwahati, and Visakhapatnam, and Colombo as the neutral venue. 

India will take on Sri Lanka in the opener in Bengaluru; all of Pakistan's games, including the semi-final and final (if they get there), will be played at neutral Colombo

Read more: https://t.co/ack715tByK pic.twitter.com/TIFrEsKuXw

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 16, 2025

Opening fixtures and knockouts:

Sept 30, Opening match—Ind vs. SL, Bengaluru

Oct 29 - 1st semi-final, Guwahati/Colombo

Oct 30 - 2nd semi-final, Bengaluru

Nov 2 - Final, Bengaluru/Colombo