NEW DELHI (AP) — India's hopes of winning a first Women's Cricket World Cup title have been dented with the injury-enforced withdrawal of opening batter Pratika Rawal for the semifinal against defending champion Australia.
The in-form Rawal was forced off the field after injuring her ankle attempting to save a boundary in India's last league-stage game on Sunday, which ended in a washout against Bangladesh.
“Tough to sit out due to injury, but my heart is with the team,” Rawal said in a social media post. "Best of luck, India!”
She scored 308 runs in the league stage of the tournament — including a century in a decisive win over New Zealand — second only to teammate Smriti Mandhana’s 365.
The International Cricket Council approved Shafali Verma as a late replacement in the squad for Rawal.
India placed fourth in the league stage, which included a high-scoring loss to Australia.
England and South Africa will meet Wednesday in the first of the semifinals, a day ahead of the Australia-India game.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
India's Pratika Rawal bats during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup cricket match between India and New Zealand in Navi Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
India's Pratika Rawal celebrates her century during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup cricket match between India and New Zealand at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
MILAN (AP) — Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left his role “by mutual consent” on Friday, three days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
The Italian soccer federation announced the news in a statement thanking Gattuso “for the dedication and passion” during his nine months in charge.
Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.
“With pain in my heart, not having achieved the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over,” Gattuso said.
Gattuso’s departure comes a day after Italy’s soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned along with Gianluigi Buffon, who was the national team’s delegation chief.
The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.
The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before another loss to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso greets Federico Dimarco during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso directs his team during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
