The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made a key change to the schedule for the first Women’s Champions Trophy. The tournament, initially set for June-July 2027 in Sri Lanka, will now take place from February 14-28, 2027. The reason for this alteration has not been disclosed.
This tournament, first announced in 2022, will feature eight teams playing in the T20 format, a decision made during an ICC meeting in Ahmedabad on Monday.
Impact on Cricket Australia’s Calendar
This change affects Cricket Australia (CA), which had planned to host the White Ferns for a white-ball tour in February and March 2027. The series was to include three T20 matches on February 21, 24, and 26 at North Sydney Oval, Manuka Oval, and Junction Oval, followed by three ODIs on March 1, 5, and 7 at Junction Oval and Karen Rolton Oval. Due to the Champions Trophy scheduling conflict, CA will need to revise its plans.
Pathway for the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup
In addition to the Champions Trophy update, the ICC introduced a new Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, a 10-team competition to occur this year. This event will include five Full Members and five Associate Members based on ICC rankings.
The ICC has also outlined the qualification process for the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). If India does not qualify directly, their matches will be held at a neutral venue.
The 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup will feature 12 teams, similar to the 2026 edition. Ten teams will qualify directly, including the top eight from the upcoming T20 World Cup, the host nation (if not already qualified), and the next highest-ranked teams as of July 6, 2026.
The remaining two spots will be filled through a 10-team Global Qualifier, determined by Regional Qualifiers, with final allocations confirmed during ICC meetings in July.