Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Sri Lanka Loses Hosting Rights for 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy
Sri Lanka was supposed to host a new women’s cricket tournament in 2027.
The ICC has decided that the event must be held in another country.
Six teams are expected to play from February 14 to 28.
A new host has not been chosen yet.
Sri Lanka’s cricket board is currently being managed by a government-created Transformation Committee.
The ICC wants cricket boards to be run independently by elected officials.
This disagreement has led to Sri Lanka losing the hosting rights.
Sri Lanka’s place in the tournament might also be reviewed.
The ICC has removed Sri Lanka as host of the inaugural 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy.
The six-team T20 tournament is scheduled for February 14–28, 2027.
The event will move elsewhere, but the ICC has not named a replacement host.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains under a government-appointed Transformation Committee, contrary to the ICC’s independence requirement.
Sri Lanka’s tournament qualification could be reconsidered because it is sixth in the rankings.
- Who
- The International Cricket Council, Sri Lanka Cricket, the Sri Lankan government, and the Transformation Committee are involved.
- What
- Sri Lanka has lost the right to host the inaugural 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy.
- When
- The tournament is scheduled for February 14–28, 2027; the replacement host is expected to be discussed at the ICC’s next Board meeting.
- Where
- The tournament will be moved out of Sri Lanka, but its new venue has not been announced.
- Why
- The ICC says Sri Lanka Cricket must operate independently, while the board remains under a government-backed Transformation Committee.
ICC Position
Sri Lankan Government Committee
Cricket-board independence
ICC Position
The ICC is calling for fresh elections and the restoration of an elected board that operates independently from the government.
Sri Lankan Government Committee
The Sri Lankan government temporarily took control of Sri Lanka Cricket and created a Transformation Committee to address problems and implement structural reforms.
Tournament hosting
ICC Position
The ICC has moved the Women’s Champions Trophy out of Sri Lanka while the governance arrangement conflicts with its independence requirements.
Sri Lankan Government Committee
The Transformation Committee’s secretary confirmed that the event had been moved, although the committee’s stated purpose was to address issues in cricket and carry out reforms.
Sri Lanka’s participation
ICC Position
The ICC may review Sri Lanka’s place because the original qualification system was expected to include the host and Sri Lanka is currently sixth in the rankings.
Sri Lankan Government Committee
No alternative qualification position for Sri Lanka has been announced.
- Tournament
- Inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy
- Format
- T20
- Scheduled dates
- February 14–28, 2027
- Number of teams
- Six
- Original host
- Sri Lanka
- Replacement host
- Not yet announced
- Governance dispute
- The ICC is seeking an elected cricket board operating independently of government interference.
- Possible qualification impact
- Sri Lanka’s place could be reconsidered; it is currently sixth in the rankings.
