Sri Lanka’s interim cricket administration is seeking to keep the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in the country as it pushes ahead with governance reforms, even as India has emerged as the leading contender to stage the tournament if the ICC relocates the event.
The six-team T20 competition is scheduled for February 14 to 28, 2027, but its host remains uncertain amid the continuing governance dispute surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). While reports have indicated that the tournament is being moved, the ICC has yet to publicly confirm a replacement venue.
Sri Lanka pushes to retain hosting rights
The latest effort by Sri Lanka’s interim administration comes after concerns over government involvement in SLC raised questions over whether the country could retain the global event.
Interim Committee Chair Eran Wickremaratna told PTI: “We are very committed to really correcting from the very foundation. We are not backing out.”
The government-appointed administration is pursuing changes to SLC’s constitution and governance framework as part of a process intended to eventually return the organisation to an elected leadership structure.
Interim Committee official Prakash Schaffter told reporters: “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 said the ICC had indicated around two-and-a-half months earlier that it was considering an alternative venue outside Sri Lanka.
India emerges as leading alternative
According to a report by India Today, India has emerged as the leading contender to take over the tournament if the ICC proceeds with relocating it from Sri Lanka, although no replacement host has been formally announced.
As previously reported by cricexec, Schaffter had earlier told the Sunday Times that the event had already been moved from Sri Lanka. He said: “Yes, it has been moved out of Sri Lanka.”
That earlier position contrasts with the latest indication from Sri Lanka’s interim administration that it still sees an opportunity to persuade the ICC to stage the tournament in the country.
The final hosting position remains unresolved publicly, with the ICC expected to determine the replacement venue if Sri Lanka does not retain the event.
Governance reforms remain central to Sri Lanka’s case
SLC has been under a government-appointed Transformation Committee since April after the previous administration was instructed to resign following allegations of mismanagement and corruption. The ICC’s position against government interference in the administration of member boards has placed the structure of Sri Lankan cricket at the centre of the hosting issue.
Former Sri Lanka Captain and Interim Committee member Kumar Sangakkara told PTI: “We are passing the phase of formulating a new constitution and then have an elected body.”
The ICC has already restricted SLC’s representation at its Board meetings while the governance situation remains unresolved. In July, the global governing body acknowledged progress on constitutional reform while maintaining its position on elections.
The ICC said at the time: “The ICC Board received an update on Sri Lanka Cricket and noted progress towards a revised Constitution. It reiterated the need for elections to be held as soon as possible and agreed that Sri Lanka Cricket would continue to be unable to be represented at ICC Board meetings for the time being.”
Hosting decision could affect Sri Lanka’s qualification
The uncertainty surrounding the venue also carries implications for the composition of the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy.
As previously reported by cricexec, the qualification structure was expected to include the five highest-ranked teams alongside the host nation. Sri Lanka was ranked sixth at the relevant cutoff, creating uncertainty over its place in the competition if the hosting rights ultimately move elsewhere.
Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa are the other teams positioned for the six-team tournament. The ICC has not announced a revised qualification arrangement resulting from a potential change of host.
Sri Lanka’s interim administration is therefore pursuing governance reform with both its relationship with the ICC and the Women’s Champions Trophy unresolved. India remains the leading alternative to stage the February 2027 event, but the ICC has yet to publicly confirm that the tournament will leave Sri Lanka or announce its final host.
