Women’s World Cup 2025: Six Teams Secure Direct Qualification, Bangladesh Misses Out

January 24, 2025, will go down as a bittersweet day for Bangladesh Women’s Cricket as their hopes of securing direct qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 were shattered by an eight-wicket defeat to West Indies in the final match of their series at Warner Park, Basseterre, St. Kitts. Despite an earlier win that had sparked dreams of qualification, Bangladesh’s valiant efforts fell short, leaving them with just 21 points from 24 matches in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–2025. With this result, New Zealand edged out Bangladesh for the final automatic qualification spot due to their superior Net Run Rate (NRR).

For Bangladesh, the outcome marks a frustrating missed opportunity in their quest for direct World Cup entry. The final ODI had been touted as a potential turning point in the qualification race, but the match ended in disappointment. While the team’s valiant attempt to push for a direct entry into the ICC Women’s World Cup was marred by inconsistent performances, the road ahead now leads to a high-pressure battle in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

The Build-Up: Bangladesh’s Dream of Direct World Cup Qualification

The ICC Women’s World Cup qualification process is a long, grueling journey where every point, every run, and every wicket matters. Bangladesh had been in the thick of it, fighting for one of the direct qualification spots through the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–2025. With the top six teams securing automatic entry into the tournament in India, Bangladesh’s initial optimism had been fueled by their win in the second ODI against the West Indies, which had reignited their dreams of direct qualification.

Heading into the third and final match of the series, Bangladesh knew that a win would ensure they kept pace with New Zealand, giving them a shot at that all-important sixth place. The match was supposed to be a decider — a potential moment to change the course of Bangladesh’s World Cup fate. But the final clash turned out to be an emotional setback for the team.

A Crushing Defeat: The Final ODI in Basseterre

The match at Warner Park, Basseterre, St. Kitts, was eagerly anticipated, as both teams had one eye on the prize. The West Indies had already taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series, and with their dominant performance in the opening match, they were looking to finish the series with another victory.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, had to win to stay in the race for automatic qualification. They started with high hopes, but their performance with the bat fell short when it mattered most. The team struggled to build partnerships, and the pressure of the occasion seemed to get the better of them. Their total was never going to be enough against the strong West Indies side, and their lack of batting depth was exposed in this crucial game.

In response, the West Indies chased down the target with ease, securing an eight-wicket victory and sealing Bangladesh’s fate in the qualification race. With that, the last-chance saloon for direct qualification was shut, leaving the Bangladesh Women’s team reflecting on what could have been.

Bangladesh’s Final Stand: The Missed Opportunity

With their disappointing loss in the final ODI, Bangladesh ended the ICC Women’s Championship with 21 points from 24 matches, tied with New Zealand. However, the White Ferns claimed the coveted sixth spot for automatic qualification, edging Bangladesh out due to their better Net Run Rate.

Despite the heartbreaking nature of the loss, Bangladesh’s performance in the series was a clear indication that they have the talent to compete at the highest level. Their win in the second ODI had shown their resilience and ability to bounce back under pressure, but consistency remains a hurdle for the team. The defeat in the final ODI, in particular, highlighted the team’s struggle to build partnerships and post competitive totals against strong opposition.

The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup will be contested in India, and the six automatic qualifiers have already been confirmed:

India (hosts)
Australia
England
South Africa
Sri Lanka
New Zealand

For Bangladesh, this defeat means that they must now focus on the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, where the remaining two spots in the tournament will be up for grabs.

The Road to the Qualifiers: Bangladesh’s New Challenge

While the defeat marked the end of Bangladesh’s direct qualification hopes, their journey is far from over. The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifiers will now be the next battleground, where they will compete for one of the final two spots in the World Cup. This six-team qualifier tournament will feature the teams that finished in the bottom four of the ICC Women’s Championship and the highest-ranked teams outside the Championship. For Bangladesh, this is a second chance, a last opportunity to make it to the grand stage of women’s cricket.

The teams competing in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers will include:

West Indies
Pakistan
Ireland
Thailand (highest-ranked team outside the Women’s Championship)
Scotland (highest-ranked team outside the Women’s Championship)
Bangladesh (top-ranked team in the qualifiers)

The qualifier tournament promises to be fiercely competitive, as all teams will be determined to secure their spot in the 2025 World Cup. With Bangladesh being the top-ranked team among the qualifiers, they will enter the competition with the expectation of qualifying for the World Cup. However, they will face stiff competition from the likes of the West Indies, who have a strong squad, and Pakistan, who have shown glimpses of brilliance.

As the teams await the announcement of the schedule and venue for the qualifier tournament, Bangladesh will have time to regroup, reflect on their ICC Women’s Championship campaign, and work towards strengthening their squad for the qualifiers.

Building for the Future: A Call to Action

The defeat in the final ODI serves as a wake-up call for Bangladesh Women’s Cricket. The team has a mix of experienced players and young talents who have shown they can compete at the highest level. However, their inability to consistently produce match-winning performances in key moments will need to be addressed if they are to succeed in the qualifiers.

For Bangladesh, the focus must now shift to mental toughness, consistency, and building partnerships. The batting department, in particular, will need to rise to the occasion in the qualifiers, as the team cannot afford to have another match where they fall short of competitive totals. The experience from the West Indies series will serve as a learning curve for the team, and they will need to capitalize on it going forward.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will also have a key role to play in ensuring that the team has the necessary support, resources, and preparation for the qualifiers. With the ICC Women’s World Cup in India on the horizon, the stakes could not be higher, and the entire nation will be rallying behind the Tigresses as they strive for a place in the tournament.

A Fight for World Cup Dreams

The defeat in the final ODI against the West Indies Women marks a difficult chapter in Bangladesh’s journey to the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. However, this setback is not the end of the road. Bangladesh now faces an even more daunting challenge in the World Cup Qualifiers, where they will battle it out with other ambitious teams for the last two spots in the tournament.

Though Bangladesh’s direct qualification hopes were dashed, the dream of competing on the world stage is still very much alive. The players must regroup, reflect, and focus on the task at hand as they prepare for the final qualifiers. Their performances in the upcoming tournament will determine whether they have the resolve to qualify for the biggest stage in women’s cricket.

For now, Bangladesh Women’s Cricket has been handed a chance to prove that their World Cup dreams are far from over. It’s time for them to turn the page, make a fresh start, and give their all in the race for qualification. The road to the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup now runs through the qualifiers, and the Tigresses are determined to give their best to ensure they earn their place in the tournament in India.

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