England national women’s cricket team stars could face a major scheduling clash between the Women's Premier League 2027 (WPL 2027) and their international series against Sri Lanka.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and other senior players will be allowed to stay with their WPL teams if they reach the final stages of the tournament, even if it means missing the T20I series against Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy.

England Women face WPL 2027 scheduling clash with Sri Lanka series

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced England's tour schedule on Wednesday, October 21. The three-match T20I series between England Women and Sri Lanka Women will be played in Pallekele on February 1, 3, and 5, while the WPL 2027 will run from January 14 to February 7.

This means players whose franchises reach the WPL 2027 playoffs could miss some or all of England's T20I matches in Sri Lanka. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to allow players to complete their Women's Premier League commitments in India.

The WPL playoffs are also expected to provide valuable practice ahead of the first-ever ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy, which will be held in India from February 14 to 28 next year.

Nat Sciver-Brunt and England stars allowed to miss Sri Lanka T20Is for WPL 2027

Therefore, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Bell, and Sophie Ecclestone, who have already been retained by their Women's Premier League franchises, will be allowed to miss the Sri Lanka T20Is. Sciver-Brunt will play for Mumbai Indians, Bell for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Ecclestone for UP Warriorz.

Only two English players, Sophia Dunkley and Kira Chathli, have entered the WPL auction scheduled for October 28, while most of their teammates have decided to prioritize the Sri Lanka tour. Amid this, Amit Mishra joins Delhi Capitals as coach: IPL records, coaching history, wickets and career stats.

However, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and Mithali Ayodhya have both entered the WPL auction, and if they get the buyer, they will have to make adjustments accordingly.

ECB sees WPL Playoffs as preparation for ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy 2027

The ECB believes that playing in the WPL 2027 playoffs will help its players prepare for the ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy 2027. The high-pressure matches will give them useful experience in Indian conditions before the major tournament.

This is not the first time England has allowed players to miss the T20Is because of the WPL. In 2024, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge arrived late for a series in New Zealand because of their WPL commitments.

ICC moves Women's T20 Champions Trophy from Sri Lanka to India

The ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy was originally scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka in June and July 2027. However, the ICC moved the tournament to an earlier date and shifted it to India following concerns over government interference in Sri Lanka’s cricket administration.

After the three-match T20I series in Pallekele, England will return to Sri Lanka for three ODIs in Dambulla on March 4, 6, and 8. England will hold a red-ball training camp in India in January.