Sri Lanka has lost the hosting rights for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) deciding to move the six-team T20 tournament out of the country amid concerns over government interference in the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The tournament is scheduled to be played from February 14 to 28, 2027.
While the ICC is yet to formally announce the new host, India has emerged as a strong contender for the responsibility. A final decision is expected at an upcoming ICC Board meeting, potentially in October or later.
Sri Lanka had originally been awarded the hosting rights under the previous leadership of SLC. However, the situation changed after a government-appointed Transformation Committee took charge of the cricket board to oversee governance reforms, including changes to its constitution.
The ICC does not recognise politically appointed cricket administrations and has barred SLC representatives from its Board meetings since the committee took control. The global governing body has repeatedly called for elections and the return of an independent, elected cricket board.
Prakash Shaffter, Secretary of the Transformation Committee, confirmed that the tournament would no longer be held in Sri Lanka.
“Yes, it has been moved out of Sri Lanka… It will be played at another venue, but as of now, I am not sure where it will be played,” Shaffter said.
Sri Lanka could also face qualification risk
The loss of hosting rights could have implications beyond the tournament’s financial impact on Sri Lanka. The Champions Trophy is expected to feature six teams, with qualification largely based on the ICC rankings. The host nation would have secured a place, while the remaining spots would go to the highest-ranked teams.
Sri Lanka’s position around sixth or seventh in the rankings means losing host status could put its place in the tournament at risk. Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa are currently among the leading teams, while West Indies are also in contention.
The ICC, however, has not yet announced whether there will be any changes to the qualification criteria following the decision to shift the tournament.
Financial blow for Sri Lanka
Moving the tournament out of Sri Lanka is also expected to result in a financial setback for the country and SLC.
Hosting an ICC tournament brings revenue from teams, officials, broadcasters and spectators, while also providing a boost to hotels, tourism and other local businesses.
The decision is also another setback for Sri Lankan cricket over governance concerns.
The country previously lost the hosting rights for the 2024 Men’s Under-19 World Cup after the ICC suspended SLC over government interference. The tournament was eventually moved to South Africa.