Nine nations, 30 teams on track to play in 2025 World Cup

30 teams across nine nations are on track to compete in the upcoming World Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka this September, according to the WICF.

The current makeup will see New Zealand and Australia, who have already named their squads, send teams for each of the four divisions (Men, Women, Under-22 Men, Under-22 Women), whilst hosts Sri Lanka, and India, who have both named Mens probables squads so far, as well as the United Arab Emirates, and England all committing to sending four sides as well.

South Africa will be travelling with three sides, which excludes their Under-22 Women’s team, whilst Singapore will send a Men’s and Women’s team. USA will make their debut at an Opens World Cup following their participation at the Masters World Series last year, and are at this point are expected to have a Men’s side compete, having just recently held trials.

The expected line-up of teams will mean that the tournament is likely to feature at least 12 more sides from the 2022 edition that was held in Melbourne, when 18 teams competed across the four divisions. Whilst eight Men’s teams competed at that event, with the same teams expected to be represented in 2025 alongside the USA, the event was notable for only three sides (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa) competing in each of the Under-22 Men’s and Women’s divisions, whilst the same three nations alongside Singapore competed in the Women’s division. Due to the small number of teams competing in each of those divisions, the 2022 World Cup featured the awkward scenario of Under-22 teams competing against Opens sides in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions in round-robin play.

As the costs and logistics of holding an event in Australasia has become even more difficult to manage in the post-COVID-19 environment, the WICF has pledged to bring more tournaments to the Asian countries during this World Cup cycle. This has been evidenced by the 2024 Masters World Series and England-Asia Cup being held in Colombo, whilst the 2023 Junior World Series and Gulf Cup Tri-Series was hosted in Dubai. In return for the Asian sides committing to sending sides for events, WICF President Tony Watkins says the strategy of holding tournaments in this region has meant this World Cup will be well attended this time around.

Watkins also said whilst the registration period has elapsed (countries were to confirm their teams by mid-July), the WICF are still in talks to add another country to participate in the tournament, as well as discuss with other countries about possibly sending more teams to travel for the event. Finland has been touted as a potential option, having opened an indoor cricket facility recently, as well as Saudi Arabia. Nothing has been confirmed from these discussions as yet.

The 2025 Indoor Cricket World Cup will be held at U-Pro Indoor Sports and the Austasia Sports and Leisure Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 27 September to 5 October.

2025 World Cup - Potential Team and Division Line-Ups*

*Subject to change

Image: Getty Images for Cricket Australia

Graphics: Shewon Fonseka