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The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy is scheduled to start on February 14, 2027, and run until February 28, 2027. However, it has been hit with a roadblock after the International Cricket Council (ICC) took away the hosting rights from Sri Lanka on Sunday. Now Sri Lanka Cricket's interim administration is keen to retain the hosting rights for the major tournament.
The first edition of the Women’s Champions Trophy will feature six teams, but concerns over political involvement inside the SLC have forced the apex body to shift the event outside the Island nation. This will be a big loss for the country, which recently co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 back in February-March.
"We are very committed to really correcting": Eran Wickremaratna on changing the foundation of SLC
While speaking with the PTI, Interim Committee chairman Eran Wickremaratna stated that they are committed to changing the foundation and they are not backing off from hosting the forthcoming major tournament in 2027. Eran Wickremaratna has been in the position after being appointed by the Sports Ministry of the country.
"We are very committed to really correcting from the very foundation. We are not backing out," said Wickremaratna, as quoted by PTI.
Will Sri Lanka get back its hosting rights again?
The same problem has already been discussed inside the apex body, and Interim Committee member Prakash Schaffter stated that the ICC already informed the SLC around two-and-a-half months ago that they are planning and seeking options outside Sri Lanka to host the tournament.
"Although they have not categorically told us their decision due to governance issues with SLC, we are hoping we will be able to demonstrate to them the steps we have taken so that they may even be persuaded to play it here," Schaffter told reporters on Monday.
The former Sri Lanka National Cricket Team captain Kumar Sangakkara, who is part of the interim committee, stressed the importance of having a good working relationship with the ICC as they as a country trying to solve the issues surrounding its cricket administration.
"We are passing the phase of formulating a new constitution and then have an elected body," Sangakkara said.
SLC set to be banned again?
Sri Lanka, who were announced as the host for the inaugural edition of the tournament, lost their hosting rights because of continuous government involvement in the administration of Sri Lanka, which was seen as a concern by the ICC, and thus they lost their hosting rights.
Australia, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa will join Sri Lanka in the inaugural edition, with all six teams set to compete for the first Women’s Champions Trophy title. The ICC has also barred the SLC representatives from attending its Board meetings since the Transformation Committee took charge.
However, despite Sri Lanka losing its hosting rights, the ICC have not announced the name of the new host. The new host name will be announced at the next Board meeting; the official date for the same has not been announced yet. Previously, Sri Lanka faced a similar setback in 2023 when the ICC suspended SLC over government involvement.
