ICC unveils full schedule for U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025; India to face West Indies in their first game

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled the schedule for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, which is set to take place in Malaysia. The tournament will kick off on January 18, with the grand finale scheduled for February 2. This prestigious event will mark Malaysia’s first time hosting the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, promising an exciting chapter in women’s cricket.

Tournament format and group breakdown

The tournament will feature a total of 16 teams, divided into four groups of four teams each. Over 16 days, fans will be treated to 41 thrilling matches across four venues, ensuring a cricketing spectacle. The 16 participating teams are as follows:

• Group A: India (A1), West Indies (A2), Sri Lanka (A3), and Malaysia (A4). Matches will be held at Bayuemas Oval in Selangor.
• Group B: England (B1), Pakistan (B2), Ireland (B3), and the USA (B4). These matches are scheduled at Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA Oval) in Johor.
• Group C: New Zealand (C1), South Africa (C2), Africa’s Qualifier (C3), and Samoa (C4). The games will take place at Borneo Cricket Ground in Sarawak.
• Group D: Australia (D1), Bangladesh (D2), Asia’s Qualifier (D3), and Scotland (D4). This group will compete at the UKM YSD Oval in Selangor.

This edition of the tournament is particularly significant as it will see the debut of both the host nation Malaysia and Samoa, marking Samoa’s first appearance in an ICC World Cup event.

Warm-up matches and India’s opening fixture

Before the main event begins, a series of 16 warm-up matches will be conducted from January 13 to 16, allowing the teams to fine-tune their strategies and acclimate to the conditions. The tournament will kick off with a bang on January 18, featuring six matches on the opening day. These include key clashes such as Australia vs. England, England vs. Ireland, and Samoa vs. Africa Qualifier, all taking place simultaneously. Meanwhile, India will square off with West Indies in their opening match on January 19.

To ensure fairness in the knockout stages, the ICC has scheduled reserve days for all knockout fixtures. February 1 will serve as the reserve day for both semi-finals, while the final has a reserve day on February 3. Initially, Thailand was slated to co-host the event alongside Malaysia. However, their withdrawal has led to Malaysia being the sole host of this highly anticipated tournament.

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Super six stage and knockout rounds

Following the group stage, the top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage. Here, they will be further divided into two groups of six teams each. The top three teams from Group A and Group D will form one Super Six group, while the top three from Group B and Group C will constitute the other. Crucially, teams will carry forward their points and net run rates from the group stage, adding extra importance to each match.

The top two teams from each Super Six group will progress to the semi-finals. Notably, if India qualifies for the semi-finals, they will compete in Semi-Final 2. India, the defending champions, will be eager to retain their title after their triumphant victory in the inaugural edition held in South Africa in 2023, where they defeated England by seven wickets in the final.

ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025: Full schedule:

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.