“Bangladesh Protests Hit Cricket: How Major Tournament Could Be Affected”

Uncertainty now surrounds Bangladesh’s ability to host the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October 3-20, due to ongoing political unrest and the recent resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. With the tournament just under two months away, there are growing concerns that the event might need to be relocated if the instability persists.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to make an official statement regarding a potential venue change but has indicated that they are monitoring the situation closely. An ICC spokesperson confirmed, “The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their security agencies, and our own independent security consultants. Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants.”

During the ICC Annual Conference in Colombo last month, the unrest in Bangladesh over a government jobs quota system was briefly mentioned, but it was not formally discussed.

The Women’s T20 World Cup, featuring ten teams playing 23 matches across two venues—the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium—was scheduled to start with ten warm-up matches from September 27 to October 1.

India is set to play in Group A alongside New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and defending champions Australia. Group B will include hosts Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland.

If the unrest continues, the ICC may have to make alternative arrangements to ensure the safety and smooth execution of the tournament.