Pakistan beat Thailand to qualify for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, but won't play matches in India; here's why

Pakistan defeated Thailand in a match of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, 2025 on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium to become the first team to qualify for the main in event to be hosted by India. This was Pakistan's fourth straight win in the Qualifiers. The Women in Green will play their final game in the Qualifier on April 19. If they win, Pakistan will top the event.

In the process, Pakistan join the likes of Australia, hosts India, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, and another qualifier. Batting first, Pakistan rode on knocks from Fatima Sana (62 in 59 balls) and Sidra Amin (80 in 105 balls) to post 205/6 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Thailand was bundled out for 118 runs in 34.4 overs, with Fatima (3/39), Rameen Shamim (3/18) and Nashra Sandhu (3/19) producing spectacular bowling performances. Fatima's all-round performance earned her the 'Player of the Match' award.

Notably, no batter from Thailand could touch the 20-run mark.

How Pakistan fared World Cup Qualifier?

Pakistan started their campaign with a 38-run win over Ireland before beating Scotland by six wickets. Pakistan then defeated Hayley Matthews' West Indies, who were undone in a low-scoring chase by 65 runs. Notably, Ireland and Thailand have been eliminated with Scotland, West Indies and Bangladesh fighting for the lone spot.

Both West Indies and Scotland are at four points each and a win in their last respective matches will take them to six points. Bangladesh are placed second in the table with six points.

Both West Indies and Scotland need to win their games by big margins and hope that Bangladesh lose so have their net run rate higher. Bangladesh can qualify even if they lose but hope that both West Indies and Scotland lose by small margins.

Why Pakistan will not play any matches in India?

Despite India hosting the event, Pakistan will play none of the World Cup matches in the country, as a part of the deal between BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The decision was taken just before the men's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 when India didn't not travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.

Since India didn't travel to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy, a compromise was agreed by all the parties which stated, “India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue.”