The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled for February 2027, will be relocated from Sri Lanka, with the local board set to lose its hosting rights. According to cricket watchdogs, the six-team tournament will be moved to a different venue within the same timeframe, with India emerging as a likely host. The final confirmation of the new venue is expected to be announced at the upcoming ICC board meeting in October.
Sri Lanka has lost its hosting privileges due to government interference in its cricketing affairs. The tournament was slated to be the country’s second major ICC event in a year, following its co-hosting duties for the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup. Currently, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) operates under a government-appointed interim administration known as the Transformation Committee, which is tasked with overseeing major administrative reforms, including constitutional updates.
The ICC has a strict policy against recognizing politically appointed governing bodies. Consequently, SLC representatives have been excluded from ICC board meetings since the implementation of the government-formed Transformation Committee.
The relocation of the tournament could severely impact the Sri Lankan national team’s standing. The competition is strictly limited to the top six teams in the official ICC rankings, and Sri Lanka qualified for the event automatically by virtue of being the host nation. Slipping to seventh in the global rankings, the country’s automatic spot is now under threat. The top five positions are currently held by Australia, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa. The West Indies, sitting in sixth, stands to qualify as a replacement should Sri Lanka fail to gain entry.
This marks the second time in three years that administrative issues have cost Sri Lanka an international tournament. In 2023, the country was stripped of the 2024 Men’s Under-19 World Cup hosting rights for similar reasons, with the event ultimately relocated to South Africa.
