The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is planned to take place later this year, is likely to be moved from Bangladesh owing to the country’s deteriorating political situation, which is rife with demonstrations and violence.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is allegedly planning to move the event to another country in the coming days while it monitors the situation in Bangladesh.
On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign as she went to India. The assets of her Awami League party were targeted, including that of former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza.
Will the ICC shift the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to India, the UAE, or Sri Lanka?
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is set for later this year, from October 3 to October 20.
However, given to political upheaval and demonstrations in Bangladesh, hosting the event in the country carries significant uncertainty and danger.
According to Cricinfo, the UAE, India, and Sri Lanka are among the possible backup destinations under consideration by the ICC. in case they are compelled to relocate the competition outside of Bangladesh.
“The ICC is closely monitoring developments in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their security agencies, and our independent security consultants.” “Our top priority is the safety and well-being of all participants,” an ICC official said.
“The ICC maintains an independent security monitoring system in all of its member countries. The issue is being continuously studied, but with seven weeks until the tournament begins, it will be too early to say whether it will be moved from Bangladesh,” they added.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also recommended Indian people not to go to Bangladesh till further notice, repeating warnings from other nations such as Australia and England. The individual cricket bodies, including the BCCI, are expected to take the government’s suggestion.
A similar circumstance occurred in March 2022, when Sri Lanka was besieged by unrest, but Australia continued to visit the nation for a bilateral series. However, for a worldwide competition like the World Cup, with 10 teams, the decision is more difficult.
While the ICC seldom changes tournament locations, they have done so in case of an emergency. They last made such a relocation in 2021, when the Men’s T20 World Cup was moved from India to the UAE and Oman owing to the Covid-19 epidemic.
