Pakistan to host South Africa for three-match ODI series in build-up to 2025 women’s World Cup

Pakistan will host South Africa for a three-match ODI series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in preparation for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. The matches are set for September 16, 19, and 22, and will serve as the national team’s final preparations before departing for Sri Lanka to compete in the tournament.

Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will begin on October 2 in Colombo, with all league stage matches taking place in Sri Lanka, as well as potential knockout matchups in Colombo. Except for a three-match T20I series against Ireland in Dublin in early August, this is Pakistan’s lone important assignment going up to the 50-over World Cup. The ODI games against South Africa will be crucial in determining the playing XI and team combinations.

Following the World Cup, the Pakistan women’s squad will prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted in England from June 12 to July 5. To prepare for this, the Women in Green will tour South Africa in February-March 2026 for three ODIs and three T20Is as part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 season. In April-May 2026, a home series against Zimbabwe will be played, consisting of three ODIs and three T20 Internationals.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup in England, the team will play a three-nation T20I series in Ireland against the West Indies and the hosts. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is trying to boost its local circuit and youth teams. The U19 women’s squad will compete in a national T20 event in Karachi between September 15 and October 6. The top performers from this competition will be chosen for a three-week skills development program, followed by a five-match T20I trip to Bangladesh in December.

PCB is also planning to introduce a departmental women’s tournament, focusing on expanding the pool of professional players and enhancing competition. Furthermore, the Women’s One Day Tournament (Nov 6–24, 2025) and the Women’s T20 Tournament (Mar 24–Apr 17, 2026) are scheduled to feature leading domestic and international players.

Pakistan Women’s fixture against South Africa Women: