India to Host Inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy After Sri Lanka Relocation

The ICC has confirmed India as the new host for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, moving the tournament out of Sri Lanka following government interference concerns, the global governing body announced on Wednesday.

The eight-team event will now be played from February 14 to 28, 2027, across two venues: the Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Gujarat. The decision was ratified by the ICC board on September 1 after three potential hosts were assessed – Bangladesh, South Africa and India – with India emerging as the preferred choice.

Sri Lanka’s Governance Issues Force Relocation

The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, but IGK had earlier reported that it had been moved out of the country due to government interference. Sri Lanka Cricket is currently being run by a government-appointed Transformation Committee tasked with overseeing reforms, including changes to its constitutional and governance structure. Under ICC policy, politically appointed interim administrations are not permitted.

A landmark moment for women’s cricket awaits.

The dates and venues for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 are now confirmed, as India prepares to welcome the world’s best teams from 14-28 February.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/QrY2iyDwyU pic.twitter.com/m7cWLxY8I8

— ICC (@ICC) September 2, 2026

This is not the first time Sri Lanka has lost hosting rights for an ICC event. The country was also stripped of the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, which was relocated to South Africa. According to the ICC’s statement, Sri Lanka Cricket “continues to make requisite reforms” as outlined at the ICC Annual Conference in July.

Tournament Structure and Participating Teams

The six teams set to participate in the inaugural edition are England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and India. The tournament will be played in a round-robin structure, with the final scheduled for February 28.

ICC chairman Jay Shah welcomed the move, describing the event as 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,” Shah said in a statement.

He added: “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.”

                                               

Relevant news