Bangladesh Political Crisis: What’s the Fate of the Women’s T20 World Cup?

The political turmoil in Bangladesh, marked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, has cast a shadow over the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October. Speculation is rife that the tournament might be moved to a different location.

Despite the event being a couple of months away, an ICC spokesperson has mentioned that they are “closely monitoring the situation” in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and security agencies, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all participants.

A government change could potentially lead to a shake-up in BCB management, with participating boards, including the BCCI, poised to discuss the issue with the ICC based on the evolving circumstances in Bangladesh.

Attempts to reach BCB president Najmul Hasan Papon and other board members for comments were unsuccessful. The tournament is set to feature 10 teams playing 23 matches across two venues, the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, from October 3 to 20.

Due to the ongoing crisis, the BCB and ICC have not commenced the ticketing process or media accreditation, which usually starts two months prior to the event. Although the issue was raised informally at the ICC’s annual conference in Colombo, it was not formally discussed.

In May, the ICC revealed the T20 World Cup schedule in Dhaka, with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana present. Prior to the event, the two captains met with Prime Minister Hasina at her residence.