Colombo: Cricket fans in Colombo are in for a thrilling Friday as Sri Lanka Women take on Pakistan Women in a must-win group stage clash of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Both sides are desperate to turn their tournament fortunes around at the R. Premadasa Stadium, where play is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM IST, with the toss at 2:30 PM. Rain clouds are hovering over the capital, but fans remain hopeful of a full-length contest between two teams eager to climb up the points table.
Venue & Match Details
The historic R. Premadasa Stadium, known for its electric atmosphere and challenging surfaces, will test both batters and spinners. The evening start and high humidity could make batting second tricky if dew settles in, but early movement and a slowing surface may also tempt captains to bat first.
Team Squads & Captaincy
Sri Lanka Women (probable): Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani.
Pakistan Women (probable): Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (c), Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Natalia Pervaiz.
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Both sides are expected to stick to largely the same combinations, with Athapaththu’s aggressive leadership key for Sri Lanka and young skipper Fatima Sana aiming to inspire Pakistan’s first win of the tournament.
Current Form & Key Players
Sri Lanka have shown flashes of brilliance but inconsistency has haunted their campaign. Captain Chamari Athapaththu remains their most potent force, leading the run charts for her side while chipping in with crucial overs of off-spin.
For Pakistan, top-order batter Sidra Amin has been their standout performer, averaging nearly 60 in ODIs this year. All-rounder Aliya Riaz and spinner Nashra Sandhu will be central to Pakistan’s chances if they are to break their losing streak.
Pitch & Weather Report
The R. Premadasa pitch traditionally offers early batting comfort but gradually assists spinners as the ball grips later in the evening. Expect a total around 230–250 to be competitive. Weather, however, remains unpredictable — with Colombo likely to witness intermittent showers that could shorten or delay the match.
Match Prediction
Both teams have struggled for consistency, but Sri Lanka’s familiarity with home conditions and Athapaththu’s form make them marginal favourites. Pakistan’s hopes rest on their top order holding firm against spin. If rain intervenes, the match could swing either way through the DLS method.
Where to Watch
Fans can watch the match live on the official ICC broadcast partners and stream it through ICC’s digital platforms and regional sports networks across Asia.