The Women’s Cricket World Cup is set to crown a new champion on Sunday, when hosts India take on South Africa, as both teams look to culminate their month-long, nine-match campaign with a maiden global championship.

India are two-time finalists in the One-Day International world championship, having lost the 2005 and 2017 titles to Australia and England. They also lost the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup final to Australia in 2020.

South Africa are playing a World Cup final for the third year in a row, having reached the T20 World Cup finals in 2023 and 2024, losing to Australia and New Zealand. However, this is the first time they have reached a World Cup final in the 50-over format.

“We know very well how it feels like after losing. But the feeling after victory, that is something which we are really looking forward to,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur told reporters on Saturday.

India reached the semis as the fourth-best team in the league stage. But Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues helped India pull off the biggest successful chase in women’s ODI history on Thursday, stunning seven-time champions and favourites Australia to reach the final.

South Africa, who beat India in the league stage last month, earned a dominant 125-run win over four-time champions England in Wednesday’s semi-final, as captain Laura Wolvaardt put in a player-of-the-match performance, scoring 169 off 143 balls.

“The whole crowd is behind India, probably a sold-out stadium. It definitely puts a lot of pressure on them as they’re sort of expected to win. I think it plays in our favour a bit,” Wolvaardt said.

“Every cricket game starts at zero. We can’t bring any history into the game. Knockout cricket is completely different from league cricket. People can do some very special things in knockout games like Jemimah the other night.”

High stakes

Kaur said India have been preparing for the opportunity to play in the World Cup final for the last two years.

“Last time we played in the World Cup final, we saw many changes in the sport back home. Women’s cricket took many steps forward, a lot of girls flocked to the grounds,” said the 36-year-old.

“I’m sure, when we win the final, there will be even more changes. We will see much more cricket, not only at the international level, but domestically things will improve as well.”

For South Africa, who have never won a World Cup in men’s or women’s cricket, the stakes are high as well.

“We recently got domestic contracts introduced. So, I can only imagine what something like a World Cup trophy will do back home. Just the number of girls that will be able to see it on TV, who will hear that we’re a World Cup-winning nation,” Wolvaardt said.

Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi gave major damage to South Africa’s batting order, removing Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the first over as both sides came face-to-face in the T20I series decider at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bowl first against South Africa.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (c), Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq.

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira(c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams and Ottneil Baartman.

Head-to-head

Pakistan and South Africa have come face-to-face 27 times in T20Is, with their head-to-head record hanging in balance as the two teams are tied with 13 victories each.

• Matches: 27
• Pakistan: 13
• South Africa: 13
• No Result: 1

Form Guide

The two teams enter the high-stakes fixture with similar momentum, having registered equally emphatic victories against each other in the first two matches of the ongoing series.

In the series opener in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the Proteas crushed the hosts by a massive 55-run margin by bowling them out for a modest total of 139 while defending a 195-run target.

The home side responded with an equally resounding triumph as they booked South Africa for a mere 110 in 19.2 overs before chasing down the modest target for the loss of just one wicket and 41 balls to spare.

Notably, the two teams last played a bilateral series in the shortest format in December last year, which the home side, South Africa, won 2-0 as the third fixture was abandoned due to rain.

Pakistan: W, L, L, W, W (most recent first)

South Africa: L, W, L, A, L

Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand is on Manchester United‘s transfer shortlist, while N’Golo Kanté is being targeted for a return to Europe. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester United are weighing up a move for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, according to TEAMtalk. The Red Devils are continuing to assess the transfer market ahead of plans to strengthen manager Ruben Amorim’s midfield in January. It is reported that Hjulmand, 26, could be acquired for half of the fee that United would be expected to pay to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton or Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson, with recent reports indicating that either could require an offer worth between £100 million and £120m to secure. Hjulmand, who has previously been linked with Juventus, has been on United’s shortlist for a long time.

– Paris FC are dreaming of signing Al Ittihad midfielder N’Golo Kanté, reports Foot Mercato. The 34-year-old is yet to extend his contract with the Saudi club, and newly promoted Ligue 1 side Paris FC see it as a “golden opportunity” to bring him back to Europe. Kanté has made six starts in the Saudi Pro League so far this season, and he will enter the final 18 months of his deal in January. He won one Premier League title with Leicester City and another with Chelsea, where he also won the UEFA Champions League, before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023. He also wont he 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, for whom he last appeared in November 2024.

– A move for Bayern Munich center-back Dayot Upamecano is being considered by Internazionale, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. It is believed that the France international is yet to communicate a desire to stay put at the Allianz Arena, and the Nerazurri are “poised to make a move” if an opportunity arises to land him. The 27-year-old is set to enter the final 18 months of his contract in January, while Lazio‘s Mario Gila is seen as a potential alternative.

– Multiple clubs are lining up to sign Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee in January. TEAMtalk reports that West Ham United are among five Premier League teams keen on a move for the 24-year-old, but they are facing competition from Europe, with Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven also interested. Previous reports have indicated that the Red Devils would prefer to keep their squad together beyond the next transfer window, but with the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Zirkzee wants to play regular minutes to have a chance of being selected in the Netherlands‘ squad for the tournament.

– Clubs in the Premier League are interested in Palmeiras forward Vitor Roque, according to Diario AS. The 20-year-old left Barcelona for a fee of €25m in February and he has hit form again upon his return to Brazil, scoring goals in 27 league matches. His performances are believed to have caught the attention of clubs in Europe, but teams in England‘s top flight are “favorites” in the race for him.

EXPERT TAKE

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OTHER RUMORS

Arsenal are considering an approach for Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Lennart Karl, with the Emirates Stadium hierarchy willing to back manager Mikel Arteta in January. (CaughtOffside)

Liverpool are planning to hand new contracts to midfield pair Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. (Fabrizio Romano)

Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher “remains an option” for Manchester United in their search for a midfielder. (Fabrizio Romano)

Jadon Sancho could be set to return to Manchester United in January, with Aston Villa “unimpressed.” with his recent performances during his loan spell. (Football Insider)

West Ham are reluctant to part ways with midfielder Lucas Paquetá in January. (Football Insider)

Juventus, Internazionale, and Roma are interested in a potential move for Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup who has also been approached by teams in the Premier League. (Nicolò Schira)

Aston Villa and Leeds United are among the teams interested in PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari. (TBR Football)

Napoli, Sevilla, and Real Betis are looking at Club America winger Brian Rodríguez. (Ekrem Konur)

Talks over a new contract are set to take place between Sassuolo and forward Armand Laurienté. (Nicolò Schira)