Sri Lanka have lost the hosting rights for the inaugural ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy 2027, with the International Cricket Council deciding to move the six-team tournament out of the country amid an ongoing dispute over the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka from February 14 to 28, 2027.
The ICC is yet to announce the replacement host, with the decision expected to be taken at its next Board meeting.
ICC Governance Dispute Behind Decision
The development comes amid a long-running disagreement between the ICC and Sri Lanka’s cricket administration.
Sri Lanka Cricket is currently being run by a government-appointed Transformation Committee, a situation that has raised concerns within the ICC over political interference in the country’s cricket administration.
The ICC has consistently maintained that its member boards must operate independently from government intervention and has called for Sri Lanka to return to a fully elected cricket administration.
Prakash Schaffter, secretary of the Cricket Transition Committee, confirmed that the tournament had been moved out of Sri Lanka.
“Yes, it has been moved out of Sri Lanka,” Schaffter said, adding that it would be hosted elsewhere, although the new venue had not yet been confirmed.
Inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy
The 2027 edition will be the first-ever Women’s T20 Champions Trophy, with six teams scheduled to participate.
The tournament was originally awarded to Sri Lanka in 2022 as part of the ICC’s hosting cycle for women’s global events. The ICC had confirmed Sri Lanka as the host of the Women’s T20 Champions Trophy, subject to the country qualifying for the competition.
The ICC later moved the tournament’s dates to February 14-28, 2027, as part of changes to its women’s cricket calendar.
Who Will Play In The Tournament?
The six-team competition is expected to feature Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the host nation, according to reports surrounding the original qualification structure.
However, Sri Lanka’s position in the tournament could now become complicated following the change of host.
Sri Lanka are currently sixth in the relevant rankings, and if the replacement host is a team already inside the qualification places, the ICC could face a decision over whether Sri Lanka retain their place in the six-team event. The ICC has not yet announced a revised qualification mechanism.
Another Major Setback For Sri Lankan Cricket
Losing the Women’s Champions Trophy is another significant blow for Sri Lankan cricket administration.
The country has previously faced consequences over governance concerns. In 2023, the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket over government interference, and Sri Lanka subsequently lost the hosting rights for the 2024 Men’s Under-19 World Cup, which was moved to South Africa.
The latest decision therefore represents another major setback for the country’s efforts to host international cricket tournaments.
New Host Yet To Be Decided
For now, the ICC has not officially announced where the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy will be staged.
The replacement host is expected to be determined at the next ICC Board meeting, meaning teams and fans will have to wait for clarity on the tournament’s venues and final qualification picture.