Sri Lanka has lost the hosting rights for the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy scheduled for February 2027, according to the Secretary of the Cricket Transition Committee, Prakash Schaffter.
Schaffter confirmed that the International Cricket Council had formally informed the committee that the tournament would be moved out of Sri Lanka.
The replacement host had not been announced at the time of publication.
Tournament had been awarded to Sri Lanka
The inaugural Women's Champions Trophy is a six-team Twenty20 International tournament scheduled to take place from 14 to 28 February 2027.
Sri Lanka had previously been selected to host the competition.
The tournament was expected to include Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the host nation.
However, Schaffter has now confirmed that the ICC informed the Cricket Transition Committee that the event would be moved to another country.
Administrative uncertainty surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket
The development comes amid continuing administrative uncertainty surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket.
A government-appointed Cricket Transition Committee currently administers Sri Lanka Cricket.
Current reporting links the ICC decision to concerns surrounding cricket administration and the ICC's position on government involvement in the governance of member boards.
However, Sineth News has not located a separate public ICC statement setting out the detailed reasons for moving the tournament.
The reason should therefore remain appropriately attributed rather than presented as an independently established ICC finding.
Replacement host not yet announced
No replacement host had been officially announced at the time of publication.
The decision represents a significant loss of an international hosting opportunity for Sri Lanka.
However, the consequences for Sri Lanka's participation in the tournament should not be assumed from the hosting decision alone.
Any changes to qualification or participation arrangements require separate confirmation from the ICC.