Pakistan set to host South Africa for 3 ODIs as full schedule for double World Cup year announced

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday unveiled an action-packed international schedule for the women’s national team for the 2025-26 season. Pakistan will host South Africa for a three-match ODI series in September, which will serve as a crucial build-up to the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025.

The Women in Green will play all their matches, including the knockouts, in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with India. The home series will help Pakistan finalize their team combinations ahead of the ODI World Cup in Colombo, where they are set to play seven league matches between October 2 and 24.

Pakistan to Host South Africa Ahead of Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

The Women in Green are set to kick off their 2025-26 international season with a three-match T20I series against Ireland in Dublin in early August. Following the series, they will host South Africa for a three-match ODI series.

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According to the schedule, the three matches will be played in Lahore on September 16, 19, and 22, respectively. The series will serve as vital preparation ahead of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.

After the home series, they will travel to Sri Lanka for the marquee tournament, where they are slated to play all their league matches. If they qualify for the knockouts, they will play the semifinal and final in Colombo on October 29 and November 2, respectively.

Pakistan Women's Team to Focus on 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup

Following the 2025 ODI World Cup, Pakistan's women's team will shift their attention to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, which is scheduled from June 12 to July 5.

They will begin preparations with a tour of South Africa from February 7 to March 2, where they will play three ODIs as part of their ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 campaign, along with three T20Is.

Pakistan will host Zimbabwe for a six-match white-ball series, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, from April 24 to May 11. Ahead of the tournament, they will travel to Ireland for a tri-nation T20I series involving the hosts and West Indies, which will be their final outing before the World Cup.

Pakistan Women’s full schedule for double World Cup year:

Three T20Is v Ireland, away (6-10 August, 2025)

Three ODIs v South Africa, home (16-22 September, 2025)

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (30 September - 2 November, 2025)

Three ODIs and three T20Is v South Africa, away (7 February-2 March, 2026)

Three ODIs and three T20Is v Zimbabwe, home (24 April-11 May, 2026)

T20I Tri series v Ireland and Pakistan, Ireland (May-June, 2026)

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, England (12 June-5 July, 2026)

The Upcoming Season Is Significant - Rafia Haider

Rafia Haider, head of women’s cricket, noted that the international schedule has been strategically planned to help players build form and confidence to contribute to the team’s overall success.

“The upcoming season is significant, with major events such as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on the horizon."

“Our international schedule has been designed to ensure thorough preparation, with quality opposition that will enable the players to perform well and contribute to the team’s success," stated Rafia Haider.

The PCB announced that the women’s Under-19 team will participate in a national T20 tournament in Karachi from September 15 to October 6. Players who perform well will be shortlisted for a three-week skill development camp in preparation for a five-match T20I series in Bangladesh set for December.

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