ICC Women’s WC: Navi Mumbai replaces Bengaluru as host; Tournament opener in Guwahati

The ICC on Friday announced that Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium will replace Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium as the fourth Indian venue for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup, set to begin on September 30. According to the updated itinerary, the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium in Guwahati will now host the tournament opener between joint hosts India and Sri Lanka.

Navi Mumbai will host two group fixtures involving India (against New Zealand on October 23 and against Bangladesh on October 26), the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh game (originally slotted for Colombo on October 20), the second semi-final (October 30) and potentially the final, on November 2, if Pakistan don’t qualify.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka–England clash, earlier slated for Guwahati on October 11, has been shifted to Colombo, while the Bangladesh–New Zealand fixture on October 10 will now be played in Guwahati instead of Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam, in turn, will host the England–New Zealand encounter on October 26, the tournament’s only day game, originally scheduled in Guwahati.

Commenting on the revised schedule, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the Navi Mumbai venue is ideal for women’s cricket.

“Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans. I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years,” he said.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world,” he added.

The changes were necessitated after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was denied police clearance to stage matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, following the June 4 stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations that left 11 dead and several injured.

In June, the ICC, while announcing the dates for the tournament, had listed Bengaluru as one of the five venues for the tournament along with Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Indore and Colombo. Bengaluru was originally scheduled to host the tournament opener involving hosts India, the October 30 semi-final and the final on November 2 (if Pakistan didn’t make it).

“While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans,” Shah said.

The top-four sides from the league stage will progress to the semifinals, with first-place playing fourth and second taking on third. The first semi-final set to be in Guwahati or Colombo on October 29, depending on Pakistan’s progress, and the second semi-final in Navi Mumbai on October 30.