By Abdul Raheem Fakhar
The Pakistan Women's Cricket Team has once again been eliminated from the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 at the group stage without a single win. In the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, Pakistan played 7 matches in which they lost 4 against India, Bangladesh, Australia and South Africa. The other 3 matches were washed out against England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Out of six World Cup appearances, including the ongoing edition, Pakistan has managed to win only 3 out of 30 matches.
The team showed a promising start during the World Cup qualifiers, where they remained unbeaten against teams like Bangladesh, West Indies, Thailand, Scotland and Ireland to secure their place in the CWC 2025.
However, the momentum was lost as soon as the main tournament began. In their opening match, Pakistan was bowled out for just 129 runs against Bangladesh, a team they had defeated in the qualifiers, and went on to lose by 7 wickets. This initial batting failure set the tone for what would become a disastrous campaign.
In their second match, against arch-rivals India, the bowlers started well but leaked too many runs in the death overs, allowing India to post 248. The batting line-up collapsed once again, managing only 159 in response, resulting in a heavy 88-run defeat.
In their third game, against defending champions Australia, Pakistan’s bowlers had the opposition struggling at 76/7. However, they failed to dismiss the tailenders, and Australia posted 221. The batting unit faltered yet again, being bowled out for just 114.
Their fourth and fifth matches, against England and New Zealand respectively, were washed out due to rain, with both teams sharing one point each.
In a do-or-die match against South Africa, Pakistan needed a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Chasing a revised target of 234 in 20 overs under the DLS method, they managed just 83/7 and lost by 150 runs, that defeat confirmed their elimination from the tournament. The last match against Sri Lanka also got washed out and both teams shared a point, with Pakistan team ending their campaign with 3 points, all from washed out matches.
Pakistan became the second team to be eliminated from the tournament after Bangladesh, while New Zealand and Sri Lanka also have been eliminated. Australia, South Africa, India and England have secured semi-final spots.
A recurring mistake in all of Pakistan’s defeats has been their batting failure with repeated collapses, poor shot selection, lack of strike rotation, and minimal power hitting. They failed to cross the 200-run mark in any match, while other teams were scoring 300+ and successfully chasing big totals. Notably, Pakistan hit only one six in the entire tournament so far. In addition, poor fielding and inconsistent individual performances contributed to their downfall. Even when some players made a good start, they couldn’t convert it into match-winning contributions.
While the team's performance has undeniably been below par, it's important not to jump to radical conclusions without understanding the underlying issues. Pakistan’s consistent failures stem from deeper systemic problems, lack of grassroots development, societal constraints, inadequate financial investment and limited opportunities for competitive exposure.
One significant issue is the lack of access to top-level overseas leagues. Most Pakistani women cricketers have not had the chance to participate in global tournaments like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) or the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with rare exceptions like Nida Dar and Fatima Sana. This absence of high-level exposure hinders their growth. Furthermore, the team plays few international fixtures, especially against top sides like Australia and England, which further widens the skill gap.
Addressing these problems requires long-term strategic planning, starting with improving infrastructure and resource allocation. The women’s team continues to face challenges that the men’s team does not, including lack of proper facilities, insufficient equipment, and societal pressure that discourages many young girls from pursuing sports as a career.
Another factor is the limited media coverage and sponsorship for women's cricket compared to the men's team. This affects financial support and overall morale. Constant changes in captaincy and squad selection also add pressure, as players often feel insecure about their place in the team.
The players lack access to high-quality coaching and mentorship. Hiring experienced female coaches could not only provide a better perspective but also offer role models for aspiring players. At the grassroots level, a well-structured domestic setup is essential, with regular, competitive tournaments to help players gain experience and confidence.
Participation in international leagues is vital for player development. Pakistan must also consider launching its own women's league similar to the WBBL (Australia), WPL (India), and The Hundred (England) to provide local players with a competitive platform.