Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Washed Out in Colombo, Fifth Rain-Abandoned Match

The Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 came to a frustrating halt on Friday, October 24, 2025, when heavy rain forced the abandonment of the group-stage clash between Sri Lanka women's cricket team and Pakistan women's cricket team at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. After a three-hour delay and a last-ditch effort to play a reduced 34-over match, play began just long enough for Pakistan’s openers, Omaima Sohail and Muneeba Ali, to reach 18-0 in 4.2 overs — before another deluge soaked the outfield. At 8:06 PM local time, officials called it off. It was the fifth washed-out match of the tournament at this venue — and the fifth time fans, players, and broadcasters were left watching water drip from the stands instead of boundaries fly over them.

When the Monsoon Won

Colombo’s October isn’t just rainy — it’s a monsoon siege. The Northeast monsoon, which typically drenches Sri Lanka from October through December, turned the R Premadasa Stadium into a swamp. Ground staff worked through the afternoon with towels, suction pumps, and hope, but the water didn’t recede — it just kept coming. By the time the umpires finally agreed to a 34-over game, the outfield was still spongy, and the ball was skidding unpredictably. When the rain returned, it wasn’t a drizzle. It was a wall of water. The pitch, already struggling with poor drainage, became unplayable. Experts have long warned that scheduling a global tournament in October in Colombo is a gamble with nature — and this tournament proved it.

Who Got Left Behind

For Chamari Athapaththu, 35, this might have been her final World Cup as captain. She’s led Sri Lanka for over a decade, through highs like beating India and South Africa, and now through this rain-soaked disappointment. "We came in with hope," she said, voice tired but clear. "We beat teams who were supposed to be better. But we lost early, we made mistakes, and then the weather took over. You can’t control the sky." Her team finished fifth with five points — one win, three losses, three no-results — and a net run rate of -1.035. They were just one win away from the semis. Instead, they’re left wondering what might have been.

Pakistan, meanwhile, became the only team in the eight-nation tournament to finish without a single victory. Their three points came entirely from abandoned matches against Sri Lanka, Australia, and England. "We were good with the ball," said captain Fatima Sana. "But the batting... we couldn’t hold a lead. We waited four years for this. And we finished like this?" Her team ended seventh, with a net run rate of -0.58. But there’s a twist: if Bangladesh beats India in their final group match on October 26 in Navi Mumbai, Pakistan could drop to eighth place — the bottom of the table.

Why This Isn’t Just Bad Luck

Five washouts in 11 matches at one venue? That’s not a streak of bad weather. That’s a systemic failure. The International Cricket Council has been criticized before for venue choices — but this time, the backlash is louder. The R Premadasa Stadium has a known drainage problem. Cricket boards in Australia, England, and India host tournaments in controlled climates — why not here? Sri Lanka hosted the men’s World Cup in 2011 with minimal disruptions. Why is the women’s event treated like an afterthought?

The scheduling controversy didn’t stop at Colombo. Sri Lanka had three other matches washed out. Pakistan’s entire campaign was defined by rain: they were 34-0 against England before it stopped, and 76-7 against Australia before Beth Mooney’s century saved the day. These weren’t flukes. They were predictable.

What Comes Next

The final group match between Bangladesh women's cricket team and India women's cricket team on October 26 in Navi Mumbai will determine whether Pakistan finishes seventh or eighth. But the real question isn’t about rankings. It’s about legacy. Players like Athapaththu, who’ve carried Sri Lankan cricket for more than a decade, deserve better than a tournament drowned in monsoon. The ICC must now answer: Did they prioritize convenience over fairness? Did they value tradition over preparation?

Cricket analysts are already calling for a review of future Women’s World Cup venues. "This isn’t about one bad week," said former England spinner Monty Panesar on Sky Sports. "It’s about a pattern. If you schedule a global event during monsoon season in a country with known drainage issues, you’re not being ambitious — you’re being negligent." The players aren’t asking for miracles. Just a chance to play. And that’s the cruelest part of all.

Behind the Scenes: Team Changes and Tactical Shifts

The match saw several last-minute changes. Sri Lanka brought in Dewmi Vihanga for Udeshika Prabodhani, while Pakistan swapped Sidra Nawaz and Fatima Sana for Syeda Aroob Shah and Eyman Fatima — a sign of desperation in the face of weather chaos. But no lineup adjustment could fix a sodden pitch. The bowlers, who had been Pakistan’s strength, were rendered useless. The batters, who needed to seize the moment, never got the chance.

What This Means for Women’s Cricket

This tournament was meant to be a milestone — the most-watched Women’s World Cup ever. But instead of highlight reels, we got puddles. Broadcasters lost airtime. Sponsors lost exposure. Fans lost faith. And the players? They lost the chance to prove themselves on the field.

The ICC has invested millions in growing the women’s game. But without reliable venues and sensible scheduling, those investments risk becoming empty gestures. The world watched as athletes trained for years, only to have their dreams washed away by rain they couldn’t control. That’s not sport. That’s spectacle without substance.