The Women’s Champions Trophy will move from Sri Lanka to India to host
The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy will be shifted from Sri Lanka, with India emerging as the front-runner to host the six-team tournament in February 2027, India Today has learnt.
Sri Lanka was initially awarded hosting rights as part of the ICC Women’s Global Series, but the tournament will now be held in a different country due to ongoing concerns over the governance of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The ICC has yet to formally announce a replacement host, although India is considered the leading candidate.
The tournament is scheduled to be played from 14 to 28 February 2027. The six-team T20 competition is part of the ICC’s expanded women’s cricket calendar, with Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the host nation expected to take part in the event.
THE PROCEEDINGS ARE ABOUT CHANGING THE POWER OF SRI LANKA
The decision comes against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute over proceedings between the ICC and the SLC. A government-appointed transition committee currently oversees the administration of Sri Lankan cricket, an arrangement that has raised concerns at the ICC about government involvement in the running of the national board.
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In July, the ICC Council said it had noted progress towards a revised SLC constitution, but reiterated the need for elections to be held as soon as possible. She also confirmed that the SLC will not be able to be represented at ICC board meetings for the time being.
While work on the revised constitution is said to have progressed, the proposed changes have yet to go through the required legal process before being tabled in parliament. This uncertainty has now contributed to Sri Lanka missing out on one of its major upcoming ICC hosting assignments.
India, meanwhile, has emerged as a major possibility to take over the event. The country already has considerable experience in hosting major women’s cricket tournaments and has hosted the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025. The BCCI also has an established network of international venues and infrastructure capable of accommodating a six-team tournament at short notice.
The ICC is expected to confirm the replacement host at the next board meeting. Until then, India remains a trailblazer rather than a confirmed venue for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy.
The development is yet another setback for Sri Lanka Cricket, which has been awarded the tournament through the ICC’s competitive hosting process. The inaugural year also leaves a major change of venue less than six months before the scheduled start.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
31 Aug 2026 0:01 IST