ICC changes 2024 Women's T20 World Cup venue from Bangladesh to UAE

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has changed the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision comes amid unrest and ousting of the government in Bangladesh. The tournament, however, is scheduled to be played on original dates from October 3-20.

The tournament will be hosted across two venues: Sharjah and Dubai, announced the ICC on Tuesday (Aug 20). The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), meanwhile, will continue to host the event, just now in the UAE.

Also Read:'Looking forward to...,' Australia batter Steve Smith offers update on retirement from international cricket

“It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would have staged a memorable event,” ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said in a statement.

“I’d also like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to host on behalf of the BCB and Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for their generous offers of support, and we look forward to seeing ICC global events in both of those countries in 2026,” the statement added.

Ever since the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government was toppled, the country has been in the midst of political turmoil despite an interim government being named by the Bangladesh Army.

The ICC has been monitoring the situation since the beginning and has even approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a potential replacement. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had categorically rejected the idea though.

"They [ICC] have asked us if we would conduct the World Cup. I have categorically said no," Jay Shah said to the Times of India, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "We're in the monsoon, and on top of that, we will host the Women's ODI World Cup next year. I don't want to give any kind of signals that I want to hold consecutive World Cups.”

Some of the participating countries, including India, Australia, and the UK, had already issued advisories against travelling to Bangladesh amid the unrest.