First Move  ·  Women's Cricket  · 
From the crease — Wednesday morning, 22 July

Sri Lanka and Pakistan Women Prepare for ODI Series Opener Tomorrow

The Hambantota fixture marks the start of a crucial ICC Women's Championship battle.

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The story

The international women's cricket calendar observes a quiet day today, with no fixtures played in the last 24 hours. All eyes now turn to Hambantota, where Sri Lanka Women are poised to host Pakistan Women in the first One Day International of their three-match series.

Set to commence tomorrow, July 23, at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, this series is a vital component of the ICC Women's Championship. Both teams will be eager to start strong and gather points in their quest for direct qualification to the 2029 Women's Cricket World Cup. The series offers a platform for key players from both sides to showcase their skills and set the tone for the tour.

Tables that matter

CompetitionPositionNote
ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings1stAustralia currently holds the top position.
ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings1stAustralia holds the top spot as of June 2026, with England second and India third.
ICC Women's ChampionshipOngoingThe 2025–2029 edition determines qualification for the 2029 Women's Cricket World Cup.

What we'll be watching

Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.