Pakistan and Sri Lanka Women Face Off in ICC Championship ODI Series Starting Thursday

Pakistan and Sri Lanka women's cricket teams will compete in a three-match ODI series commencing Thursday, with matches scheduled for Hambantota through July 28. The fixture is part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 cycle, where Pakistan currently holds second place and Sri Lanka sits third in the standings. Both nations have secured four victories from six matches contested so far in the tournament.

Match Schedule and Venue

All three ODIs will take place at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, with matches scheduled for July 23, July 25, and July 28, each commencing at 10 a.m. local time. The venue consolidation differs from the T20I leg of the tour, which has been relocated to Dambulla and will occur from July 31 through August 4, though no changes were made to the ODI fixture dates or location.

Squad Composition and Leadership

Sri Lanka will be led by Chamari Athapaththu, with experienced players including Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, and Inoka Ranaweera featuring in the squad. The squad announcement notably excluded Mithali Ayodhya, who captured four wickets during the recent T20 World Cup. Pakistan's squad, captained by Fatima Sana, retains most players from their recent campaign while introducing uncapped selections Maham Anees and Saira Jabeen. Pakistan's recent form has been strong in the ODI format, having whitewashed Zimbabwe in their preceding three-match series, though their T20 World Cup performance yielded only a single victory from five matches.

Tournament Context

Sri Lanka enters the series following their elimination from T20 World Cup semifinals earlier this month. Pakistan currently occupies second position in the ICC Women's Championship standings with eight points, while Sri Lanka sits third. New Zealand leads the table with thirteen points, though they have contested three additional matches. The ODI series provides both teams an opportunity to strengthen their championship credentials ahead of continued competition in the tournament cycle.