As the upcoming 2022-25 ICC Women’s Championship Cycle is scheduled to be a 10 team affair, Bangladesh and Ireland have been able to secure their spots in the cycle. Bangladesh is placed on the 9th whereas Ireland is placed in the 10th position according to their ODI rankings by ICC. Notably, the ICC also confirmed the ODI status for the five associate teams – the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and the USA.
The two teams have joined the likes of eight teams- Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Over the next three years, these teams will play eight three-match series against each other – four at home and four away – in order to make it to the 2025 World Cup tournament. The top five teams will be given direct entries, whereas the other five teams will have to fight at the World Cup Qualifiers.
Impressed by the news, Irish captain Laura Delany said, “This has been an aim for the Irish Women’s team not just for the last 24 months, but since the introduction of the championship. The standard of cricket is growing and the only way to grow is to play competitive cricket on a regular basis. To be included and to have the opportunity to play against these quality sides is brilliant for us.”
ICC has also recognized five new international teams (Netherlands, PNG, Thailand, Scotland and USA) giving them an ODI status.
This new cycle will be brought into effect from 1st June onwards, with Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan.
ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said, “Increasing the number of teams in the ICC Women’s Championship and awarding ODI status to five additional teams will help us to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. More teams playing more regularly creates a more competitive environment as we saw at the recent ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.”
This revolution will prove to be in favour of International Women’s Cricket, helping ICC widen the pool for better outreach. On the other hand, the White Ferns will host Australia and England in an ODI series as part of the ICC’s expanded Women’s Championship ahead of the 2025 Cricket World Cup. Although the dates have not been confirmed yet, the WHITE FERNS are slated to host this year’s World Cup finalists, Australia and England, as well as Bangladesh and Pakistan too.
They will play India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies in their away series as well. The ICC said that the championship would provide “a regular calendar of top-quality competitive cricket for fans around the world to enjoy in between ICC events”.
While the hosts are yet to be announced for the 2025 World Cup, the top five teams of the championship will qualify directly for the eight-team mega event, with the other two spots decided through global qualifiers as well. However, it will be the third championship since it started in 2014 and New Zealand finished in the top four in its first two editions.
