With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reigning out hosting the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a potential another even as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is trying its best to save the tournament from being moved out.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), pressed for time, is believed to be looking at Dubai/Abu Dhabi as the option but the BCB has sought more time. The ICC is expected to make a decision soon, likely on August 20, when an online meeting of the directors is arranged, albeit with a different agenda.
A BCB official said on Thursday (August 15) that it has requested the ICC for five more days before making a call. If the ICC grants the extra time, then it would have to choose on August 20, the day of the board meeting. It is understood that the ICC was originally expected to take the call on the Women’s World Cup by August 15.
India was an ideal alternative but the BCCI failed to host the tournament for multiple reasons, the weather mainly. “They (ICC) have asked us if we would conduct the World Cup. I have categorically said no. We’re in the monsoon and on top of that we will host the women’s ODI World Cup next year. I don’t want to give any kind of signals that I want to hold consecutive World Cups,” Shah said.
Shah’s statement made it obvious that the ICC was looking at other alternatives in view of the continued disturbances in Bangladesh. But the BCB has not given up hope. It has requested the governing body to extend the deadline as they are poised of coming up with a plan that will meet the ICC’s requirements to host the tournament, which is currently scheduled to begin on September 27 with the warm-up games. The tournament proper runs from October 3 to 20, involving 10 teams and 23 matches.
Earlier, BCB had written to the Army Chief regarding security declaration for the tournament and sources said both parties are communicating on regular basis to see what can be done. But several officials from the BCB, including its long-standing president Nazmul Hassan, have fled the country following the outbreak of violence last month.
As previously reported the ICC is seeking a host country with a time zone similar to that of Bangladesh and clear weather conditions, and UAE fits those criteria well. Also, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) boasts world-class infrastructure. And more importantly, the ECB is believed to be keen on hosting the event. It is understood that Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are also interested. With just about 50 days remaining for the start of the tournament, time is running out.
In the meantime, the agenda for the August 20 meeting is believed to be finalizing the terms of reference for an inquiry into the delivery of the recent Men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. At its Annual Conference in Colombo last month, the ICC formed a panel comprising three directors – Roger Twose, Lawson Naidoo, and Imran Khwaja – to report on this matter. The meeting has been mainly called to address this issue but a decision on the Women’s World Cup cannot be ruled out.
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