Already eliminated from the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team will aim to spoil New Zealand Women’s chances of qualifying for the semifinals when the two teams meet on Saturday.
Pakistan’s last game against England was washed out due to rain, dashing their hopes of securing a first win in the tournament. Before the interruption, Pakistan had performed strongly—restricting England to 133/9 in a 31-over contest and reaching 34 without loss in their chase of a revised target of 113 when rain forced the match to be abandoned.
With three losses and one no-result, Pakistan remain at the bottom of the table. In contrast, New Zealand, the 2000 World Cup champions, sit just outside the top four with three points from three games.
After consecutive defeats to Australia and South Africa, the White Ferns revived their campaign with a victory over Bangladesh, only to face another setback when rain washed out their clash against Sri Lanka. Now, with crucial fixtures ahead against India (October 23) and England (October 26), New Zealand must win Saturday’s match to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
For Pakistan, captain Fatima Sana has led from the front with four wickets against England, while Sadia Iqbal contributed two key dismissals. Their bowling unit, including pacer Marufa Akter and leg-spinner Shorna Akter, has shown promise and will need another collective effort to challenge New Zealand’s experienced batting lineup.
On the other hand, Sophie Devine has been New Zealand’s top performer, averaging 86.66 in three innings. Her steady knock alongside Brooke Halliday guided the team to victory over Bangladesh. However, inconsistent starts from senior batters Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, and Georgia Plimmer remain a concern, increasing pressure on Devine to stabilize the innings.
New Zealand’s bowling has been dependable, with Devine (3/54) and Bree Illing (2/39) delivering notable performances in recent matches.
With light rain again forecast for Saturday, weather could play a decisive role. A washout would severely dent New Zealand’s semifinal ambitions, while Pakistan will look to end their campaign with a morale-boosting win.
Match Details:
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM IST
Venue: To be confirmed
Squads:
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (C), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah.
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu.
