The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the relocation of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to ongoing security concerns in Bangladesh. The tournament, initially scheduled for October 3-20, 2024, will now be held in Dubai and Sharjah.
Bangladesh was set to host the event, but the country’s current political instability and associated travel advisories have led the ICC to make this critical decision. The situation in Bangladesh has raised safety concerns for the participating teams, prompting the ICC to explore alternative venues. After thorough discussions during a virtual meeting with its Board members, the ICC opted for the UAE as the new host country.
‘It is unfortunate that we won’t be able to host the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh’ – Geoff Allardice
Despite the venue change, Bangladesh will retain the official hosting rights for the tournament. Geoff Allardice, the ICC Chief Executive, acknowledged the efforts of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to make the event possible in their country but emphasized that safety must take precedence.
“It is unfortunate that we won’t be able to host the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The BCB was prepared to deliver a remarkable tournament, but the safety of the players and officials is paramount. I want to thank the BCB for their dedication and express our hope to bring another ICC global event to Bangladesh soon,” Allardice said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to host the event on short notice and recognized the offers of support from Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup will feature 10 teams competing in 23 matches, following a hosting model similar to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, where India retained hosting rights while the tournament was held in the UAE due to the pandemic. The ICC remains committed to ensuring the tournament’s success in its new location.
