In a significant development for international women’s cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the upcoming edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be relocated from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This decision, taken with player safety and the ongoing civil crisis in Bangladesh in mind, marks a pivotal moment in the lead-up to one of the most anticipated tournaments in women’s cricket.
Originally scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, the tournament will now be played in the UAE from October 3 to October 20, 2024. Despite the change in venue, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will retain its status as the host of the event. The matches will take place in Dubai and Sharjah, two of the premier cricket venues in the UAE.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice expressed regret over the necessity to move the tournament but acknowledged the efforts made by the BCB to try and host the event in Bangladesh.
“It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would have staged a memorable event. I would like to thank the team at the BCB for exploring all avenues to try and enable the event to be hosted in Bangladesh, but travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams meant that wasn’t feasible,” Allardice said in a statement.
While the relocation is a disappointment for Bangladesh, Allardice emphasized that the BCB would remain the official host of the event, with the hope of bringing an ICC global event to the country in the near future.
“However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future. I’d also like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to host on behalf of the BCB and Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for their generous offers of support, and we look forward to seeing ICC global events in both of those countries in 2026,” Allardice added.
The UAE has become an increasingly important hub for cricket, especially since the ICC has its headquarters in Dubai. The country successfully co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021 alongside Oman, further solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for international cricket. The UAE’s modern facilities, infrastructure, and growing cricket culture make it a fitting venue for the Women’s T20 World Cup. The rising profile of the UAE’s men’s and women’s cricket teams, both of which have made strides in the ICC rankings, underscores the nation’s growing influence in the global cricketing landscape.
As the countdown to the Women’s T20 World Cup begins, all eyes will be on the UAE as it prepares to host this prestigious tournament. The event promises to be a showcase of world-class cricket, and despite the challenges, the spirit of the game will undoubtedly shine through in this new venue.
