Women’s cricket is about to witness a historic moment that has so far been seen only in men’s cricket. For the first time, the ICC Women’s Championship Trophy is set to become a reality in cricket history. Let’s take a look at its dates, venue, teams and format.
When Is the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy? Why Is It Happening Only in India?
The first-ever edition of the tournament is set to take place in India from February 14 to February 28. Two venues have been selected in India — the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Gujarat. But the main question is, why India?
Sri Lanka was initially the first choice to host the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, but the plan could not go ahead due to government interference. The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board is currently being run by a nine-member committee appointed by the government, with former Member of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne serving as its chairman.
ICC Chairman Mr @JayShah is excited for the pathway and incentive the new Women’s #ChampionsTrophy creates in cricket.
More ➡️ https://t.co/QrY2iyDwyU pic.twitter.com/XmH87U3z5M— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2026
The problem is that, under ICC policy, a politically appointed interim administration is not permitted. As a result, India, Bangladesh and South Africa were considered as potential hosts. The International Cricket Council later announced India as the final host location.
Which Teams Will Play the 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy and What Is the Format?
The inaugural edition will feature a total of six teams — hosts India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
The tournament will be played in the T20 International format. Talking about the rounds, each team will play one match against every other team, making it a total of five matches per team. There will be no semi-finals, with the top two teams in the points table qualifying directly for the final.
Why Is Pakistan Women’s Team Not Part of the Inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy?
Everyone in the cricket world knows that two of the most popular rivalries are India vs Pakistan and England vs Australia. While the other three teams are certainly part of the tournament, the question is — why isn’t the Pakistan Women’s team?
The main reason isn’t the location, as it’s no secret that India and Pakistan avoid playing in each other’s countries. The real reason is the rankings. According to the ICC rankings, only the top six teams earned a place in the tournament. Pakistan wasn’t among them, as they were ranked ninth — below the West Indies at No. 7 and Bangladesh at No. 8.
Read More: “Hold Your Heads Up”: Jemimah Rodrigues Shares Heartfelt Message After Thailand’s Asia Cup Exit