Sri Lanka Face USD 20 Mn Loss After Women's Champions Trophy Shifts To India: Report

By Pramit Meher

⚡ Big governance shake-up in women's cricket, and Sri Lanka is footing the bill. Sri Lanka are looking at a loss of at least **USD 20 million** after the ICC officially stripped them of hosting rights for the inaugural **Women's Champions Trophy**. India has been confirmed as the new host, with the six-team tournament now set for **Feb 14–28, 2027**, played in **Mumbai & Vadodara**. The ICC Board ratified the relocation on Tue, closing the door on SL's hosting hopes. Here's the clinical picture behind the decision: it's not about pitch conditions or infrastructure — it's about **governance**. Sri Lanka Cricket is still being run by a **government-appointed Transformation Committee**, not an elected administration recognised by the ICC. The ICC reportedly warned SLC months ago that hosting rights were under threat unless political interference was reined in and long-pending board elections were held. The twist? The interim administration didn't escalate this to the Sports Ministry or President Dissanayake until recently. This is a recurring pattern, not an isolated case. In 2023, the ICC suspended SLC over the same governance issues and relocated the **2024 Men's U19 World Cup** from SL to South Africa. So within three years, SL has now lost two major ICC events to the same root cause — a heavy price for the political standoff. On the brighter side, SL's playing spot isn't gone. The inaugural edition features **Australia, England, India, NZ & SA**, with the **WI (6th)** and **SL (7th)** battling for the final qualifying berth. SL's hosting loss doesn't affect their eligibility — they just need to finish inside the top six. Meanwhile, eyes turn to constitutional reforms and the election timetable. The Transformation Committee expects fresh SLC elections wrapped up **before end of 2026**, provided parliamentary procedures run smoothly. *Source: IANS / Sri Lanka Daily Mirror* Source: Cricketnmore