BCB seeks military guarantees to host Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 amidst political storm in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is still hoping to host the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh despite the nation being engulfed in political turmoil.

With Bangladesh being rocked by violent protests and an emergency declared by the newly appointed interim government, the BCB is racing against time to secure the future of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Amidst political storm in Bangladesh, BCB appeals for security to host ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

On Thursday, August 8, the BCB took a bold step by reaching out to Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, urgently requesting security assurances for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to kick off on September 27 with the warm-up games.

The situation is intensified by the recent appointment of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus following the departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government was established to oversee Bangladesh until new elections can be held.

The turmoil has seen many BCB members, including BCB President Nazmul Hassan, leave the country due to their association with Hasina's Awami League party, further complicating the board’s efforts to ensure a smooth hosting of the upcoming mega event in the country.

However, despite the upheaval and many key BCB members leaving Bangladesh, some board directors have decided to stay in Dhaka and are still hopeful about the possibility of hosting the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 later this year.

We are trying to host the tournament: BCB

Iftekhar Ahmed Mithu, BCB's umpire committee chairman, was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “We are trying to host the tournament. To be honest, there are not too many of us present in the country, and on August 8, we sent a letter to the Army Chief regarding assurance about the security of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, as we have only two months in hand. ICC communicated with us two days ago, and we replied that we would come back to them shortly.

Despite the interim government being formed, we still have to give them assurance of the security, considering it cannot be given by the board or anyone else apart from a law enforcement agency of the country, and so we sent the letter today. After getting written assurance from the Army, we will inform the ICC.”

ICC to determine the fate of Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 venues by August 10

Meanwhile, the ICC is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh, considering alternative host countries in a similar time zone if they cannot guarantee the necessary security. India, UAE, and Sri Lanka are on the ICC's radar as potential replacements for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will feature ten teams competing in 23 matches over 18 days, from October 3 to 20. The matches are set to take place at two venues in Bangladesh: the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.

The ICC is expected to make a decision on whether to proceed with these venues by August 10, after evaluating the current situation in Bangladesh. The 10 teams are the hosts: Bangladesh, Australia, England, India, South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Scotland.