Uncertainty Looms Over Bangladesh's Hosting of Women's T20 World Cup

The upcoming 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh from October 3-20, faces uncertainty amidst political turmoil and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The tournament's fate hangs in the balance as the International Cricket Council (ICC) closely monitors the situation.

The ICC has expressed its priority for the safety and well-being of all participants, stating that it is coordinating with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), security agencies, and independent consultants. The matter of unrest in Bangladesh was raised during the ICC Annual Conference in Colombo last month, but it was not formally discussed.

The tournament, which will feature 10 teams playing 23 matches over 18 days, is set to take place at two venues: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. Warm-up matches will be held from September 27 to October 1 at BKSP in Dhaka.

India, the defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland, and hosts Bangladesh will compete in the tournament. Bangladesh will host the event for the second time after 2014.

The opening match will feature South Africa facing England, followed by Bangladesh taking on Scotland in the evening match in Dhaka. Australia will begin their title defense against Sri Lanka on October 4 in Sylhet, while India will open its campaign against New Zealand on the same day.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for October 17 in Sylhet and October 18 in Dhaka. The Women's T20 World Cup champions will be crowned in Dhaka on October 20.

The ICC's decision on the tournament's fate will depend on the ongoing political situation in Bangladesh. If the unrest continues, the event may be moved to an alternative venue.

Tags: #WomensT20WorldCup, #Bangladesh, #ICC, #PoliticalUnrest, #SafetyConcerns