The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup Moves to UAE

The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup will move from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates due to ongoing civil unrest in Bangladesh. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the tournament will now take place from October 3-20, 2024 at two venues in the UAE: Dubai and Sharjah. The move follows weeks of deadly anti-government protests in Bangladesh.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid the unrest. ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice expressed regret about not hosting the event in Bangladesh, praising the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for their efforts to make it possible despite travel advisories. He also thanked the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in as hosts.

Although India had initially declined to host, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe offered to stage the tournament. England and Scotland, who have qualified for the tournament will now compete in Group B. Originally scheduled to play their opening matches at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, they will now face South Africa and Bangladesh at different venues in the UAE before their final group match against each other.

The BCB will retain its hosting rights and look forward to hosting an ICC event in Bangladesh in the future. The last Women’s T20 World Cup, held in South Africa in February 2023 saw Australia clinch their sixth title with a win over the hosts. In other news, ICC Chair Greg Barclay will step down in November after his current term ends. Appointed in November 2020 and re-elected in 2022, Barclay will not seek re-election.

The ICC has set a deadline of August 27 for nominations for the position.