The ICC Women's World Cup has taken place every four years since 1973. The most recent tournament took place in 2009 in Sydney, Australia and the top four finishing teams from that event qualified automatically for the 2013 event. The teams already qualified are current champions England, along with Australia, New Zealand and India.

The remaining four places in the 2013 World Cup will be determined by this qualifying tournament. Ten teams will play the event, with the sides being split into two groups according to their global rankings.

Pakistan and West Indies qualified by virtue of finishing fifth and sixth in the 2009 World Cup. South Africa and Zimbabwe (Africa), Ireland and Netherlands (Europe), USA (Americas) and Japan (East Asia Pacific), qualified through a series of regional tournaments. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were recommended by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

This tournament also provides an opportunity for two teams to participate in the ICC WomenÕs World Twenty20 2012 in Sri Lanka. Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, India, England and host Sri Lanka are already qualified for the event. The top two placed teams in the World Cup Qualifier, apart from West Indies and Sri Lanka, will join the above six already qualified nations.