ICC Women's Champions Trophy moves to India; BCCI secretary confirms Feb 14-28 dates
Synopsis
The ICC stripped Sri Lanka of hosting rights for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy over government interference, and India stepped in — confirming Brabourne Stadium and Vadodara as venues for the 14-28 February event. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says the board offered four venues and was ready at the 'eleventh hour.' Sri Lanka, despite losing hosting duties, still plays in the tournament.
Key Takeaways
The inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy will be held in India from 14 to 28 February next year.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the venues as Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai and Vadodara International Cricket Stadium .
The ICC stripped Sri Lanka of hosting rights due to government interference in Sri Lanka Cricket's governance.
India was chosen as replacement host over competing bids from Bangladesh and South Africa .
Sri Lanka retained their place in the six-team tournament via automatic T20I ranking qualification as of 6 July .
The BCCI offered four venues ; two were selected by the ICC for the event.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is fully prepared to host the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council relocated the event from Sri Lanka to India at short notice, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Thursday, 3 September. The six-nation tournament will be held from 14 to 28 February next year across two venues in Mumbai and Vadodara.
Venues and Schedule
The tournament will be staged at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium. The six competing nations are Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. The format features a single round-robin stage leading to the final on 28 February.
Why Hosting Rights Shifted from Sri Lanka
The ICC stripped Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of its hosting rights following government interference in the national board's governance — specifically the appointment of a government-backed Transformation Committee, which violated ICC's non-interference protocols. India was selected as the replacement host ahead of competing bids from Bangladesh and South Africa. Notably, despite losing the staging rights, Sri Lanka retained their place in the tournament after securing automatic qualification based on their global T20I ranking at the 6 July cut-off date.
What BCCI Secretary Saikia Said
Speaking to reporters after a performance review meeting at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, Saikia credited the board's organisational readiness. 'The BCCI is always ready to host these kinds of international events, and for that, the BCCI should get some credit that we are ready to accommodate any international event at any point in time,' he said.
Saikia also acknowledged the ICC's decision-making, saying: 'We should thank ICC, including Jay Shah, that they have thought that BCCI is the right country that can host the tournament at such short notice.' The BCCI had offered four venues, of which two were selected.
Venue Background
The Brabourne Stadium last hosted international cricket in December 2022 during India women's T20I series against Australia, though it also staged Women's Premier League (WPL) matches in 2023 and 2025. Vadodara has grown as a prominent venue after hosting WPL fixtures in 2025 and 2026, as well as the India-West Indies women's ODI series in 2024.
What to Watch
With the tournament less than five months away, attention will now turn to scheduling, ticketing, and broadcast arrangements. The short turnaround makes logistical execution the primary challenge, though the BCCI's track record of hosting major events at short notice — including the 2023 ODI World Cup — lends credibility to Saikia's confidence.
Point of View
Commercial muscle, and a domestic women's circuit via the WPL — makes it the ICC's default safety net, a dynamic that raises legitimate questions about competitive equity in hosting allocation. Saikia's mention of Jay Shah by name is also notable: Shah, now ICC chair, was BCCI secretary until recently, and the optics of India repeatedly emerging as the replacement host when others stumble will invite scrutiny, however operationally justified the decision may be.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the ICC Women's Champions Trophy moved from Sri Lanka to India?
The ICC relocated the tournament after stripping Sri Lanka Cricket of its hosting rights due to government interference in the board's governance, specifically the formation of a government-backed Transformation Committee. India was selected as the replacement host ahead of bids from Bangladesh and South Africa.
When and where will the ICC Women's Champions Trophy 2025 be held?
The tournament runs from 14 to 28 February next year, with matches at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.
Which teams are participating in the ICC Women's Champions Trophy?
Six teams will compete: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka qualified automatically based on their T20I ranking at the 6 July cut-off date, retaining their spot despite losing hosting rights.
What format will the Women's Champions Trophy follow?
The tournament will use a single round-robin format among the six teams, concluding with the final on 28 February.
What is the BCCI's track record with these venues?
Brabourne Stadium last hosted international cricket in December 2022 and has staged WPL matches in 2023 and 2025. Vadodara has hosted WPL fixtures in 2025 and 2026 and the India-West Indies women's ODI series in 2024, establishing both as proven venues for women's cricket.
