In the unlikely event that the ICC is compelled to move the women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh later this year, the UAE, India, and Sri Lanka have been shortlisted as backup locations.
Over the past three weeks, anti-government protests have shook Bangladesh and claimed multiple lives. With the intention of forming an interim administration, army head General Waker-Uz-Zaman took over as prime minister on Monday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. Mashrafe Mortaza’s house in Narail, around 150 kilometers from Dhaka, was one among the residences owned by Hasina’s Awami League party members that was demolished by the demonstrators.
The current timetable for the ten-team women’s competition is set for October 3–20, however the ICC has scribbled down several informal alternate locations.
The situation in Bangladesh is being watched, according to an ICC official who stated on Monday that all alternatives have been kept open. “The ICC is closely monitoring developments in co-ordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB], their security agencies and our own independent security consultants,” a statement from the ICC stated. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants.”
The governments of at least three participating nations—Australia, England, and India—have advised their nationals not to come to Bangladesh in light of the events of Monday.
The ICC has begun to consider alternatives for the backup location. Even if Sri Lanka and India are prepared to host a multi-nation tournament at short notice, several issues still need to be addressed. October rains are a possibility in Sri Lanka, while the Pakistani team’s visa situation may provide a challenge in India.
The Bangladesh A team’s trip to Pakistan for a series against the Shaheens has been delayed “by 48 hours” by the BCB. The planned flight on Tuesday may not depart, as the Dhaka airport was closed on Monday from 6 p.m. until midnight.
The PCB announced in a statement on Monday that “the BCB has confirmed to the PCB their men’s ‘A’ cricket team’s departure for Islamabad has been delayed by 48 hours due to unforeseen circumstances.” “For the previous two days, the BCB and PCB have been in constant communication. They will keep working together on the updated tour schedule, with more information to come soon. The Bangladesh “A” cricket squad was scheduled to land in Islamabad early on Wednesday in preparation for two four-day and three 50-over matches that would take place from August 10–27.”
As things stand, there is no alteration in the scheduled departure date of August 17 for the senior squad of Bangladesh to travel to Pakistan. In order for the Bangladesh Test squad to train and rehearse in Rawalpindi prior to the Test series, which begins on August 21, PCB has recommended to BCB that the team be sent to Pakistan beforehand. The BCB has yet to reply to the PCB.
The board of directors of the BCB was dissolved and an interim body was appointed by the National Sports Council in January 2007, the last time a government abdicated or fell.
The men’s T20 World Cup was moved from India to the UAE and Oman in 2021 because to the Covid-19 outbreak, marking the last time the ICC transferred a major competition to a backup location.
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