Sri Lanka are reportedly set to suffer an estimated loss of at least US$20 million (around Rs 188 crore) after the International Cricket Council officially stripped the country of the hosting rights for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, with India confirmed as the new venue for the six-team tournament in February 2027. The ICC board ratified the transfer on Tuesday, putting an end to Sri Lanka’s hopes of staging the event and causing a major economic setback for the country. It was expected that the tournament would achieve significant returns through tourism, commercial activity and global exposure. The event will now be held from February 14 to 28, 2027, with matches taking place in Mumbai and Vadodara.
This decision is due to the ICC’s continuing concerns over the governance of cricket in Sri Lanka, which remains under the administration of a government-appointed transformation committee rather than an elected administration recognized by the world body.
A Sri Lanka Daily Mirror report said sources indicated that the ICC had warned Sri Lanka Cricket months ago that its hosting rights were under threat unless issues surrounding political interference were resolved and long-awaited board elections were held.
Although these concerns were reported within the interim cricket administration, the matter did not come to the attention of the Sports Ministry and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake until recently, the report said.
The report added that estimates indicate that the country may now miss out on at least $20 million in potential revenue.
This is not the first time Sri Lanka has paid a heavy price for hosting opportunities due to a standoff over government interference.
In 2023, the ICC suspended Sri Lankan cricket amid governance concerns, and subsequently moved the 2024 Under-19 Men’s World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. The Women’s Champions Trophy decision means Sri Lanka have now lost another major ICC event in three years for reasons linked to the same underlying issue.
The focus will now shift to the proposed constitutional reforms and the timetable for the new South Lebanon Congress elections. The report said that members of the Transformation Committee expect to complete the electoral process before the end of 2026 “if parliamentary procedures proceed without significant delay.”
The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy will feature Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa, with West Indies (sixth in the ICC rankings) and Sri Lanka (seventh), battling for the final spot.
The six teams will play each other in a league system. The top two teams will qualify for the final on February 28.
Sri Lanka’s place in the competition will remain intact if it qualifies in the top six, despite losing hosting rights.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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