ICC moves Champions Trophy from Sri Lanka to India
The International Cricket Council has moved the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy from Sri Lanka to India, with the tournament set to be played in Mumbai and Vadodara.
Sri Lanka was originally selected to host the six team competition, but the ICC has decided to change the venue because of continuing concerns involving Sri Lanka Cricket and alleged government interferense in the running of the national board.
The decision follows reforms that Sri Lanka Cricket was asked to make after the ICC annual conference in July. According to the ICC, the board is still working to complete the required changes.
India confirmed as replacement host
The ICC board has officially approved India as the new host for the tournament. Bangladesh and South Africa had also shown interest in taking over the hosting rights after Sri Lanka was removed.
The matches will now be staged in Mumbai and Vadodara, giving India the opportunity to host the first edition of the Women’s Champions Trophy.
The move is another major international cricket event heading to India and could provide an important boost to the growth and visibility of the women’s game.
Women’s Champions Trophy will be played in T20 format
Unlike the men’s Champions Trophy, which is played as a 50-over tournament, the women’s edition will use the T20 format.
The competition will feature six teams playing in a round-robin format. Each side will face the other teams, with the two highest-ranked teams at the end of the league stage advancing directly to the final.
This format means every match could have a significant impact on the final standings, with teams unable to afford too many defeats during the tournament.
Six teams confirmed for the tournament
Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka will compete in the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy.
The six teams qualified based on their positions in the rankings at the qualification cut-off date of 6 July.
Sri Lanka will therefore remain part of the tournament despite losing the right to host it. India, meanwhile, will have both hosting duties and a place in the competition.
Why was the tournament moved from Sri Lanka?
The change in host comes amid continuing problems surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket and its relationship with the country’s government.
The ICC has previously called for reforms within the national cricket administration. While Sri Lanka Cricket continues to work on those changes, the ICC board decided that the Women’s Champions Trophy should be moved to another country.
India was ultimately chosen after also receiving interest from Bangladesh and South Africa.
For the ICC, moving the tournament allows preparations to continue while the issues surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket are addressed.
What makes the Women’s Champions Trophy different?
The inaugural women’s competition is different from the men’s Champions Trophy in several important ways.
The men’s tournament is traditionally a 50-over competition involving the world’s leading teams, while the women’s event will be played in the shorter T20 format.
Only six teams will compete, and there will be no semi-finals. Instead, the teams will play a round-robin league before the top two sides meet in the final.
That format should create a competitive tournament, particularly because every team will have several opportunities to challenge the leading sides.
India gets another major women’s cricket event
Hosting the Women’s Champions Trophy gives India another opportunity to showcase its growing role in international women’s cricket.
With matches scheduled for Mumbai and Vadodara, fans will have the chance to watch some of the world’s best women’s cricketers in action.
India will also enter the tournament with home conditions on its side, although Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa are likely to provide strong competition.
Sri Lanka will be particularly interesting to follow after losing the hosting rights but retaining its place among the six participating teams.
