Doubts are mounting over Sri Lanka’s ability to stage the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in February 2027, as the country’s cricket board remains under the control of a government‑appointed interim committee, it was reported.
According to The Sunday Times, the six‑nation tournament is scheduled from February 14 to 28, 2027, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) has historically resisted recognising politically installed administrations.
The report states that this has raised fears that hosting rights could be shifted elsewhere unless elections restore an elected body at Maitland Place.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials insist they have received no formal communication from the ICC about a venue change. “As of now, we are hosts for the tournament,” said SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, while acknowledging the possibility cannot be dismissed.
The interim committee has been tasked with constitutional reforms, with a draft already submitted to the Sports Minister. The proposal must undergo legal and parliamentary scrutiny before being tabled in Parliament, a process expected to take time.
The uncertainty echoes Sri Lanka’s experience in 2024, when the country lost hosting rights for the ICC Under‑19 World Cup after the then Sports Minister dissolved the elected SLC administration. That move led to significant financial losses.
With less than six months to go, the deadlock over cricket governance threatens to place Sri Lanka’s hosting of the Women’s Champions Trophy under ICC review. While no official statement has yet been issued, the risk of losing another major event looms large. (Newswire)