ICC Women’s Championship - State of Play ahead of 2025 World Cup
With one automatic qualification spot for this year's World Cup in India still up for grabs, the final set of matches in the ongoing cycle offer teams a chance at a final push.
With the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 nearing, the stakes are higher than ever in the ICC Women’s Championship with automatic qualification in this year's event still up for grabs.
Featuring 10 teams and contested between 2022 and 2025, the third edition of the ICC Women's Championship is to determine the initial qualifications for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup in addition to hosts India. Each side plays eight three-match ODI series and at the end of them, the top five-ranked sides (barring India) in the points table shall earn a ticket to the pinnacle event of the format.
Australia and India are the only two teams that remain in contention for the top spot in the Women's Championship, with the reigning ODI champions (Australia) still with three matches left to play.
While Australia and England have already qualified for the World Cup, South Africa and Sri Lanka - placed fourth and fifth in the points table respectively - are also through to the tournament.
In the middle of the table, there's a tussle between New Zealand and Bangladesh for the remaining qualification spot.
Women's Championship Standings
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Here’s a look at the each team’s chances ahead of the remaining contests in the current cycle:
First - Australia - 39 points
No remaining matches
The current Women's Cricket World Cup champions maintained their dominance in the 50-over format, capping off a third successive Women's Championship win. Sitting at the top of the points table, Australia only lost three ODIs remaining in the cycle.
With a resounding 3-0 sweep win in the opening ODI against India, the reigning champions wrapped up the 2022-25 cycle with a 3-0 series win in New Zealand.
Second - England - 32 points
No remaining matches
England's hopes of claiming the top spot were dashed following Australia's series sweep against India. Although England rallied from 1-0 down to win their series against South Africa 2-1, they finished their campaign with 32 points and no further games to play.
Third - India - 31 points
Remaining matches: Ireland (home, three matches)
Best possible finish: 37 points
A 3-0 win against West Indies in their previous series at home helped India gain on England in the points table and with three more games remaining in the ongoing cycle, India can finish second behind Australia.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side bounced back against the Windies after a disappointing away series against Australia.
Their last assignment of the 2022-25 cycle will see India lock horns with Ireland Women in their first-ever bilateral series at home. India have already sealed their spot at this year's Women's Cricket World Cup as tournament hosts.
Fourth - South Africa - 25 points
No remaining matches
A 3-0 clean sweep at the hands of India earlier this year had put the Proteas out of contention for top spot, although they have already qualified for this year’s World Cup.
Their last assignment in the current cycle saw them lock horns against England. After taking a 1-0 series lead, the Proteas lost the last two ODIs, finishing the campaign with 25 points.
Fifth - Sri Lanka - 22 points
No remaining matches
A stunning 2-1 series defeat in Ireland back in August eventually helped Sri Lanka qualify for this year's Cricket World Cup.
With nine wins from their quota of 24 games, a string of favorable results worked in Sri Lanka's favor and they are now through to the prestigious tournament.
Sixth - New Zealand - 21 points
No remaining matches
Following their maiden ICC Women's T20 World Cup triumph, the White Ferns were handed a setback in the ICC Women’s Championship with a 2-1 series loss in India.
This was followed by a series whitewash at the hands of Australia at home. The result meant that the White Ferns now have their fate in the hands of West Indies, who face Bangladesh in their final assignment.
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Seventh - Bangladesh - 19 points
Remaining matches - West Indies (away, three matches)
Best possible finish - 25 points
After a recent 3-0 series sweep against Ireland, Bangladesh kept their hopes alive to seal automatic qualification.
Trailing by just two points to the White Ferns, Bangladesh stand a chance to overtake the two with a three-match series against a lower-ranked West Indies side remaining in the cycle.
Eighth - Pakistan - 17 points
No remaining matches
With only one win from their last nine matches in the Championship, Pakistan’s chances of an early ticket were all but done.
In their last series of the ongoing cycle, England managed a comfortable 2-0 win at home. A bigger upset, though, had come back in April, when Pakistan were thrashed 3-0 at home against the West Indies.
Ninth - West Indies - 14 points
Remaining matches - Bangladesh (home, three matches)
Best possible finish - 20 points
A 3-0 series sweep by India meant that the Windies are mathematically out of the race for an automatic qualification.
Their final assignment in the ongoing cycle will be a home series against Bangladesh. While the Windies will still fall a point short of New Zealand if they win all of their remaining games, Bangladesh still have all to play for in the three-match series.
Tenth - Ireland - 8 points
Remaining matches - India (away, three matches)
Best possible finish - 14 points
Already out of contention, having won just three of their 16 matches in the ongoing cycle, Ireland will face another tough challenge on the back of a 3-0 whitewash in Bangladesh.
The Ireland side will travel to India for a three-match series in January to cap off their maiden Women’s Championship campaign.