India to Host Inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in 2024

Overview of the Tournament

The first ICC Women's Champions Trophy is set to take place in India from February 14 to 28, 2024, with Mumbai and Vadodara designated as the host cities for this six-team event.

Change of Host Nation

Originally, Sri Lanka was slated to host the tournament. However, due to ongoing reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket, the event has been relocated to India. The ICC evaluated potential hosts, including Bangladesh, India, and South Africa, before selecting India, a decision that was confirmed by the ICC Board on September 1.

Significance for Women's Cricket

"The ICC Women's Champions Trophy 2027 signifies an exciting new era for women's cricket," stated ICC Chairman Jay Shah. He emphasized that this inaugural tournament will unite the world's top teams in a competitive environment, encouraging teams to improve their rankings and strive for global recognition.

Shah also noted, "With a marquee ICC women's event occurring annually, we have a unique chance to enhance momentum, ensure consistency, and foster a stronger rhythm for women's cricket, its athletes, and its global fanbase."

Tournament Structure and Teams

The tournament will feature six teams: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Each team will face the others once in a round-robin format, with the top two teams progressing to the final, which is set for February 28.

India enters the tournament as the reigning ICC Women's Cricket World Cup champions, while Australia holds the title for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, having won it in England in July.

This event will serve as a significant global stage for women's cricket, as teams compete to become the inaugural champions of the Women's Champions Trophy.