The Ceylon Indoor Cricket Association (CICA) has been awarded the hosting rights for the 12th Indoor Cricket World Cup in 2025. This prestigious event comes after the successful hosting of the World Masters’ Series by CICA 5 months ago.
Accordingly, teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, England, UAE, Singapore, USA, and host nation Sri Lanka are set to compete in the World Cup, which will take place from 27 September to 5 October, 2025. The matches will be held at the Austasia Sports Complex and the newly built U Pro Arena in Thalawathugoda.
The event is expected to attract approximately 1,000 players, officials, and supporters, with extensive media coverage across major countries involved. This World Cup will not only be a significant sporting event but also a valuable sports tourism opportunity for Sri Lanka, aligning with the recent growth in the country’s tourism sector.
Sri Lanka has seen increased international indoor cricket activity, with events like the England Asia Cup and Masters World Series held over the past year. The upgraded U Pro, Colombo, and Austasia facilities in Thalawathugoda have been the venues for thrilling indoor cricket action.
The inaugural World Cup was held in 1995 in Birmingham, England, and has since been hosted in various countries. This will be the second time Sri Lanka hosts the event, after a 21-year gap, bringing attention back to the island nation.
The tournament will feature four categories:
- Men’s Open
- Women’s Open
- 22 & under Boys
- 22 & under Girls
Australia has dominated the Indoor Cricket World Cup, winning all titles in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. The Men’s category has seen New Zealand as the runner-up 8 times, with South Africa twice and Sri Lanka once. In the Women’s category, South Africa has been the runner-up 7 times, while New Zealand has finished second 3 times.