Pakistan Women are set to face Bangladesh in the 3rd match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Both teams are considered among the weaker sides in the tournament, and their aim is to make steady progress and build confidence in the ICC event.

Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, will play all their matches in Sri Lanka’s capital, including a high-profile clash against India on Sunday. Bangladesh, captained by Nigar Sultana, are looking to build on their experience and compete strongly.

Both teams qualified for the World Cup through the qualifying event. Pakistan finished at the top, ahead of Bangladesh, giving them a slight edge going into the opening encounter.

Learning from the Past

In the last World Cup, both Pakistan and Bangladesh finished at the bottom of the table. Beating higher-ranked opponents will require exceptional performances over the next three weeks.

Sana highlighted the advantage her team enjoys in Colombo. “We have a significant advantage playing here [in Colombo] and executing our skills because we know we will be playing all our matches at the same venue and under the same conditions. This familiarity will work in our favour. Yes, definitely, our main goal is to finish in the top four. I believe the conditions in Sri Lanka are similar to those in Pakistan, so we are familiar with the exact conditions,” she said ahead of the tournament.

Sultana pointed out that Bangladesh have grown as a team since their first World Cup in 2022. “This is our second ODI World Cup and earlier we were inexperienced and unfamiliar with winning on a big stage. However, since then, we have played a lot of cricket both at home and abroad, and now we know how to win matches in tournament settings. We are eagerly looking forward to this World Cup. This is a great opportunity for all of us. We are aware of our responsibility to promote cricket back home, where interest in women's cricket is growing. We believe it is time to give back to our supporters through our performances,” she said.

Players to Watch

Bangladesh will rely on pacer Nishita Akter Nishi and all-rounder Sumaiya Akter, who both played in the U19 T20 World Cup earlier this year. The 17-year-old Nishita is the youngest member of the squad.

Pakistan will miss experienced players Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar, but Sana is confident her team has enough talent to compensate. “Teammates like Sidra Amin, Diana Baig, Nashra Sundhu, Aliya Riaz, and Muneeba Ali have already been part of past World Cups and bring calmness and experience. At the same time, youngsters like Eyman Fatima, Shawaal Zulfiqar, and Natalia Parvaiz bring fresh energy and skills that add depth to our team,” she said.

Pitch Report

The R. Premadasa Stadium track in Colombo is slow and turning, which can challenge batters early. Batting conditions will improve as the innings progress, with spinners expected to get significant turn. Evening dew may make batting easier in the second innings, so teams winning the toss might prefer to bowl first. A total of around 220 is likely to be competitive.

Weather Conditions

The weather in Colombo will be warm with partly cloudy skies. There is a low chance of rain, but delays or a DLS adjustment cannot be ruled out. Temperatures will hover around 29°C but feel like 33°C on the field. Winds blowing from the west-southwest at 11 km/h may offer early swing to pacers but could make high catches challenging.

Squads

Pakistan Women: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Syeda Aroob Shah.

Bangladesh Women: Nigar Sultana Joty (c/wk), Nahida Akter, Farzana Haque, Rubya Haider Jhelik (wk), Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Nishita Akter Nishi, Sumaiya Akter.