DUBAI, UAE: International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday granted the hosting rights of its inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy to India, with the six-team tournament set to be played in T20I format next year from February 14 to 28, while Pakistan will not feature as only the top-ranked sides have qualified for the competition.
A landmark moment for women’s cricket awaits.
The dates and venues for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 are now confirmed, as India prepares to welcome the world’s best teams from 14-28 February.
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/QrY2iyDwyU pic.twitter.com/m7cWLxY8I8
— ICC (@ICC) September 2, 2026
According to the cricket governing body, all matches of the inaugural edition will be played at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Vadodara.
The event was originally scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka but has now been moved to India as Sri Lanka Cricket continues to make the requisite reforms outlined at the ICC’s Annual Conference in July.
The ICC assessed three candidates to host the tournament, Bangladesh, India and South Africa, against their established host evaluation criteria before recommending India as the replacement host, a decision ratified by the ICC Board on September 1.
History awaits 🏆
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta looks ahead to the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, as a new chapter in women’s cricket takes shape 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ou9sppchPn
— ICC (@ICC) September 2, 2026
The tournament will feature six top-ranked teams, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and hosts India, competing in a round-robin league format, with the top two sides advancing to the final on February 28.
Pakistan, who are currently ranked outside the top six in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, will not be part of the Champions Trophy as the event is reserved exclusively for the highest-ranked teams, underscoring the growing competitiveness and depth in women’s international cricket.
Read Also: Pakistan Women Crush Thailand by 35 Runs in Asia Cup Campaign Opener
“The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket,” ICC Chairman Jay Shah said. “As the inaugural edition of the tournament, it will bring together the best teams in the world in an intense, high-quality competition, while creating even greater incentive for teams to continue rising through the rankings and competing for a place on the global stage.
Read Also: Pakistan Set for High-Octane Clash with India in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 on September 5
With a marquee ICC women’s event now taking place every year, we have a significant opportunity to build greater momentum, provide more consistency and create a stronger rhythm for the women’s game, its players and its fans around the world.”
The inaugural Champions Trophy is expected to provide a new platform for the world’s best women’s cricketers to showcase their talent and further elevate the profile of the women’s game globally.
