Bangladesh unrest – T20 Women’s World Cup 2024 venue could be changed to India, Sri Lanka or UAE

The UAE, India and Sri Lanka are on the list of possible relief venues should the ICC be forced to move the Women’s T20 World Cup later this year out of Bangladesh.

As it stands, the women’s 10-team tournament is scheduled to be held from October 3-20 but the ICC has randomly listed other venues.

The ICC official said on Monday that the situation in Bangladesh is being closely monitored and all avenues are open. “The ICC is closely monitoring the development in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB]their security agencies and our independent security consultants,” the ICC statement said. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants.”

After Monday’s incident, the governments of at least three countries that will be part of the event – Australia, England and India – issued travel advisories to their citizens against visiting Bangladesh.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that the ICC has started working on options for the backup venue. Although India and Sri Lanka are well equipped to host a multi-nation tournament in the short term, questions remain. With Sri Lanka, there is a risk of rain in October, and with India, the issue of visas for the Pakistan team could be an obstacle.

“BCB has confirmed to PCB that their men’s ‘A’ cricket team to Islamabad has been delayed by 48 hours due to unforeseen circumstances. BCB and PCB have been in constant communication for the past two days and will continue to work together on a revised tour schedule”

The BCB, on the other hand, has postponed the departure of the Bangladesh A team to Pakistan for the series with the Shaheens by “48 hours”. Dhaka airport is closed on Monday from 6pm to midnight, and it is uncertain whether the scheduled flight will take off on Tuesday.

“The BCB has confirmed to the PCB that their men’s ‘A’ cricket team has been delayed by 48 hours due to unforeseen circumstances,” a PCB statement said on Monday. “The BCB and PCB have been in constant communication for the past two days and will continue to work together on a revised tour itinerary with more details to follow in due course. The Bangladesh ‘A’ cricket team was due to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday for two four-day matches and three overs of 50 from 10-27 August.”

The departure of the main Bangladesh team to Pakistan is scheduled for August 17 and, as things stand, there is no change in that. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the PCB has suggested to the BCB that the Bangladesh Test team be sent to Pakistan early to train and practice in Rawalpindi ahead of the Test series, which starts on August 21. The BCB has not responded to the PCB yet.

The last incident of resignation or collapse of the government, in January 2007, led to the National Sports Council dissolving the BCB board of directors, and appointing an interim body.

The last time the ICC moved the world championship to a relief venue was in 2021 when the men’s World Cup was moved from India to the UAE and Oman due to the Covid-19 pandemic.