Explained: Why West Indies Women are not participating at ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 got underway on September 30.

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 got underway on September 30, 2025, with the co-hosts India and Sri Lanka taking on each other at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. Eight teams are participating in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup: Australia, India, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Five cities—Bengaluru, Vizag, Indore, Guwahati, Navi Mumbai, and Colombo—will host the competition. The final is scheduled for November 2 in Colombo or Navi Mumbai. The first semi-final’s location has not yet been revealed, but the second semi-final will take place in Navi Mumbai.

All eight nations will compete against one another in a round-robin format at ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. In the group stage, they will play each team once, and the top four teams will move on to the semi-finals. Among the major events on the schedule is the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match, which is scheduled for October 5 in Colombo.

Here is why West Indies Women are not playing in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

One of the most noticeable misses in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is the West Indies Women’s team. The West Indies Women’s team had participated in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers that was played in Pakistan in April this year.

Apart from the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, Scotland, and Thailand clashed for coveted spots in the ICC Women’s event.

Pakistan had qualified for the Women’s World Cup thanks to winning all of their matches in the qualifiers, and there was only one spot left, with West Indies and Bangladesh contesting for it. Everything rested on the West Indies women vs. Thailand women match, as the West Indies had to not only win the match, but also surpass Bangladesh’s Net Run Rate (NRR) to qualify.

Thanks to an outstanding bowling effort that included Afy Fletcher’s four-wicket haul and Aaliyah Alleyne’s quick three-wicket burst, West Indies had completed half the task by limiting Thailand to 166. What transpired, however, was nothing short of a masterclass in cricket played under pressure.

West Indies had to chase down the goal of 167 in just 10.1 overs in order to earn a spot in the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Alternatively, they may extend it to 11 overs, but only if they were able to finish with a six and tie the score at 166.

The West Indies women fell short by net run rate by a 0.01 margin

The West Indies women came out on fire. With an incredible strike rate of 241.37, captain Hayley Matthews led from the front with a gutsy knock, scoring 70 off just 29 balls with two sixes and eleven fours.

She and Qiana Joseph shared a scorching 81-run partnership off only 35 balls. But, Mathews was dismissed in the seventh over, leaving the West Indies at 105/2. Chinelle Henry took the initiative and rekindled the attack with a fantastic power-hitting exhibition. She hit three fours and five soaring sixes as she smashed 48 off just 17 balls.

The first equation was out of reach after Windies sped to an incredible 156/3 in just 10 overs. However, a new twist occurred when Henry was removed on the second ball of the 11th over.

They required a four on the fifth ball to tie the score at 162 for 4 in 10.4 overs, and then a six on the last delivery to defeat Bangladesh on NRR. The seasoned veteran, Stafanie Taylor, took over and hit a six with the fifth ball flying over the ropes. Even though the West Indies had achieved an incredible victory, it was insufficient.

They missed qualification by a run rate of 0.01 even though they chased down 167 in 11 overs, ending with an NRR of 0.63. Thanks to this, Bangladesh qualified with an NRR of 0.64, with Pakistan for company.

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