2025 Indoor Cricket World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka

The announcement marks a change for Sri Lanka Indoor Cricket (SLIC), after some heavy external investment in their infrastructure over the last 24 months, has the country back on the right track. Two courts were created at the Austasia Sports and Leisure Centre club for that World Cup over 20 years ago, however the quality of the courts was heavily run down and no longer up to the standard required at international level. In 2023, the U-Pro Group, led by Managing Director Manish Kishore, entered into a venture with SLIC in 2023 to build a new two court facility, called U-Pro Colombo. This was the scene for Kishore’s second Club World Series tournament last April.

The first international series was then held at the venue shortly after completion of the Club World Series, with England, India and Singapore contesting the England-Asia Cup with Sri Lanka in Men’s Women’s, and Masters’ grades.

Further reconstruction and refurbishment at the Austasia site saw four courts of the necessary standard being made match-ready, which was sufficient for the WICF to then award Sri Lanka the WICF Masters World Series last October (after India pulled out due to logistical issues). 41 teams from nine countries competed at this tournament, the largest international indoor cricket event to date.

A long debrief was held by the WICF following the Masters tournament, whereby it appeared likely that one of India, where new U-Pro facilities are also being built, or Sri Lanka, were going to be the frontrunners to host the biggest tournament in indoor cricket this year. In the end, Sri Lanka’s successful hosting of these recent tournaments saw them awarded the World Cup this year which will feature four of the Open’s grades – Men, Women, Under-22 Men and Under-22 Women.

WICF President Tony Watkins previous messaging around the future of indoor cricket had centred around the global body’s strategy to hold more international events and tours in Asia going forward. This directive was made as a means of increasing the overall participation of indoor cricket playing nations, as more countries are centred around these Asian regions, and minimising the costs for the majority of travelling teams. The decision was also made in return for a commitment from each national board that teams would travel for international tours and events, something which has hampered the sport in recent years due to issues with costs and funding of tours.

A media briefing was held in Colombo on 28 March, attended by a number of officials including Kishore and Hiran de Mel, Technical Director of SLIC.

Travelling teams have not been confirmed, however it is very likely that most of the major indoor cricket playing nations will attend with full or close to full squads, including current Men’s and Women’s champions Australia, Under-22 Men’s and Women’s champions New Zealand, South Africa, England, India, United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, alongside the hosts.

The last World Cup was held at Casey Stadium in Melbourne, Australia in 2022. This tournament will mark the 12th World Cup in total at the Open level after the first edition back in Birmingham, England in 1995.

Images: Nuhan Perea