Sri Lanka is set to incur an estimated loss of at least USD 20 million following the International Cricket Council’s decision to revoke its hosting rights for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy. The tournament, featuring six teams, will now take place in India in February 2027.
This decision marks a significant shift in the tournament’s logistics and has raised concerns about the financial implications for Sri Lankan cricket.
In 2023, the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket amid governance concerns and subsequently moved the 2024 Men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. The Women’s Champions Trophy decision means Sri Lanka have now lost another major ICC event within three years for reasons linked to the same underlying issue.
A report by Sri Lanka Daily Mirror said sources indicated that the ICC had warned Sri Lanka Cricket months ago that its hosting rights were under threat unless the issues surrounding political interference were resolved and long-pending board elections were conducted. The report said members of the Transformation Committee expect the electoral process to be completed before the end of 2026 “if parliamentary procedures proceed without significant delays.” The focus will now turn to the proposed constitutional reforms and the timetable for fresh SLC elections.
The ICC Board ratified the relocation on Tuesday, bringing an end to Sri Lanka’s hopes of staging the event and delivering a significant economic setback to the country, which had expected the tournament to generate substantial returns through tourism, commercial activity and global exposure.
