Australia beat New Zealand by 89 runs to kickstart their Women's Cricket World Cup campaign on Wednesday in a one-sided affair between the two rivals.

Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads Pakistan's cricket board, said Wednesday that India are "welcome" to collect their Asia Cup trophy from his office in Dubai.

From sharing a dressing room and exchanging tips, friends Nigar Sultana Joty and Fatima Sana go head-to-head as captains at an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Bangladesh’s success in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup is heavily dependent on the performance of Nahida Akter, their highest wicket-taker across both white-ball formats. The 25-year-old left-arm spinner recently talked to The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan and shared insights about their preparation, plans and expectations from the tournament.

With both sides sticking to their positions, the Asia Cup 2025 trophy saga shows no sign of ending soon, threatening to overshadow India’s ninth continental triumph.

The game drew 22,843 fans at the ACA Stadium, a record for the most attended group stage fixture at any Women’s World Cup.

Bangladesh cricket, in particular, must take note.

A splendid all-round display saw India launch their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign on the front foot, brushing aside Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the curtain-raiser in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Bangladesh women’s team head coach Sarwar Imran suffered a minor brain stroke in Colombo on Monday, team manager SM Golam Faiyaz confirmed to The Daily Star today.

Marufa Akter burst onto the scene as one of Bangladesh’s most promising pace bowlers. Her blend of youthful exuberance, skill, and ambition quickly earned her a key role in the national team. The 20-year-old pacer from Nilphamari spoke to The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi about her injury setbacks, her World Cup ambitions, and the drive to keep improving. The excerpts of the interview are as follows:

Each side arrives with at least one batter capable of shaping their fortunes and their contributions could make all the difference.

Shathira Jakir Jessy is set to create history in the upcoming ICC Women's World Cup in India and Sri Lanka by becoming the first woman umpire from Bangladesh to officiate in a senior World Cup.

Bangladesh are set for their second appearance at the ICC Women’s World Cup, beginning September 30 in Guwahati, having debuted in 2022 with a solitary group-stage win.

Which is the bigger tournament in cricket, the men’s ICC World Cup or the women’s?

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Monday said the team's all-round depth gives them a "high chance" of winning the Women's Cricket World Cup title, especially as they play on home soil.

Australia have plenty of motivation to become the first team to win consecutive Women's Cricket World Cups since 1988, and a powerhouse squad to achieve the feat.

The two teams did not shake hands for the third Asia Cup match running as India won the final by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday.

Unlike many who get caught in the emotion of an India–Pakistan clash, he played as if he was in control of time itself.

India were left celebrating their Asia Cup triumph without the trophy after a dramatic turn of events in Dubai yesterday, following their five-wicket victory over archrivals Pakistan. 

At the toss ahead of the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, a rare scene unfolded. For the first time on a cricket field, the two captains spoke to two different commentators -- naturally, each one from their own country.