The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced that India will host the first Women’s Champions Trophy. The six-team tournament will take place in Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28. Sri Lanka was removed as the host because of ongoing problems with cricket administration in the country.
The ICC Board approved India as the new host on Wednesday.
Why was the tournament moved away from Sri Lanka?
‘The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka but will now be staged in India as Sri Lanka Cricket continues to make the requisite reforms outlined at the ICC’s Annual Conference in July.
How did the ICC select India as the replacement host?
‘The ICC assessed three candidates – Bangladesh, India and South Africa – against its established host evaluation criteria before recommending India as the replacement host, a decision ratified by the ICC Board on 2 September,’ said the ICC in a statement.
Which venues and teams are set to feature in the tournament?
The Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will host the historic tournament. Six top women’s teams, Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka will take part.
What is the format and qualifying criteria for the competition?
The teams earned their places based on the ICC Women’s T20I rankings as of the July 6 qualification deadline. They will play each other once in the league stage, with the two best teams reaching the final on February 28.
How does this event build on India’s recent hosting history?
The men’s Champions Trophy is played in the 50-over format. India hosted the Women’s ODI World Cup last year with the Indian team winning the title for the first time.
What significance does ICC Chairman Jay Shah see in the new tournament?
ICC Chairman, Jay Shah, said: ‘The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket. As the inaugural edition of the tournament, it will bring together the best teams in the world in an intense, high-quality competition, while creating even greater incentive for teams to continue rising through the rankings and competing for a place on the global stage.
How will annual ICC marquee events impact the women’s game?
‘With a marquee ICC women’s event now taking place every year, we have a significant opportunity to build greater momentum, provide more consistency and create a stronger rhythm for the women’s game, its players and its fans around the world.’