Mumbai, August 11
India legends Mithali Raj and Yuvraj Singh, along with stars of the present, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, came together in Mumbai for the '50 days to go' event for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
The upcoming 50-over World Cup marks the return of a senior ICC Women's tournament to the sub-continent for the first time since 2016, when India hosted the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
India has previously staged the Women's World Cup in 1978, 1997 and 2013.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah inaugurated the event before the panel discussions involving the stars of the present and past of Indian cricket, along with ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah said, as quoted by ICC: "The return of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 to India comes at a defining moment for the women's game, setting the stage for a truly world-class tournament that will further elevate the sport's global stature."
"At the ICC, we remain open to new ideas and are constantly exploring ways to sustain the upward momentum of women's cricket. Conversations like today's panel discussion are invaluable in shaping our collective vision and driving progress."
"With just 50 days to go until the start of the tournament, preparations are well underway, and excitement is building. I extend my best wishes to all participating teams as they gear up for the challenge. I am confident they will have an unforgettable experience in India and Sri Lanka," he concluded.
The event also marked the official launch of the ICC Trophy Tour, beginning in Mumbai and travelling to all host cities of the tournament, as well as Delhi.
As part of a wider school legacy programme, the Trophy Tour will visit several schools in each host city, with the BCCI and ICC partnering with stakeholders to give select schools the chance to attend matches of the World Cup.
The tournament will take place from September 30 to November 2, with India playing the tournament opener against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an expat living in Mumbai, I'm thrilled to witness this historic moment. The school legacy program is particularly impressive - getting young girls involved is how we'll grow the sport!
While I appreciate the hype, I hope BCCI gives equal coverage to women's matches like men's. Still remember how the last women's IPL finals weren't even telecast properly. Let's walk the talk!
Yuvi and Mithali together - what a combo! ðŸ The trophy tour visiting schools is brilliant. My daughter is already begging me to take her to the Bengaluru opener. Hope tickets are affordable for families.
After the heartbreak of 2017 finals, our girls deserve this World Cup! The team looks stronger than ever with Jemimah's form. Just hope the pitches are prepared well - no more last-minute surprises please.
Great to see India hosting again! The women's game has come so far since 2013. That school program could produce future champions. Maybe we'll see the next Mithali emerge from this initiative.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.