Security concerns emerge in Bangladesh as Women's T20 World Cup approaches; ICC keeping a tight watch

The 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup is approaching fast and the security in Bangladesh is worsening day by day. Bangladesh is currently facing violent protests across the country with the students demanding the government to scrap the controversial job-quota system.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is supposedly keeping a close watch on the security situation in the country with the tournament less than two months away.

According to the reports, more than 50 people have been killed in the clashes so far, with a few being school students. The protests started two months ago. More than 100 people have been injured in the clashes. The government's state-run Bangladesh Television station's head office too wasn't spared as the protestors broke the main gate and burnt the vehicle and reception.

The protestors want a quota system to end that provides reservation up to 30% of government jobs for the relatives of war veterans from the 1971 war. The Bangladesh police have already imposed a curfew across the country while the paramilitary forces have been called upon to take care of the situation.

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ICC keeping a tight watch on the situation

According to a report from PTI, the ICC is keeping a close watch on the country's situation. With the tournament more than a month away, the protests are expected to be brought under control soon.

"We have independent security monitoring across the world. So, yes, we are keeping a watch on it (the situation in Bangladesh)," an ICC board member was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

Australia will start as defending champions

Australia is the most successful team in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup. They have won the tournament six times, which is a record. The Southern Stars have won the title in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023. The defending champions will start the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup as favorites.

West Indies and England have won the tournament once. England won the title in the inaugural edition in 2009 while West Indies won the trophy in 2016. India have reached close to a title win on numerous occasions but failed to win the tournament so far.

The closest India reached to the title was in 2010 when the Women in Blue reached the final but lost to hosts Australia by 85 runs. Harmanpreet Kaur and her team recently drew the T20I series against South Africa 1-1. Currently, India is competing in the Asia Cup 2024 in Sri Lanka.

The Women's T20 World Cup will begin on October 3, with England playing South Africa in the first match at Mirpur and hosts Bangladesh facing Scotland later in the day. India will begin its campaign against New Zealand on October 4 at Sylhet.

The semi-finals of the tournament will be played on October 17 and 18 respectively while the final will be played on October 20 at Mirpur.