The International Cricket Council on Tuesday moved the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup to the United Arab Emirates because of the ongoing political instability and security concerns in Bangladesh, which was scheduled to host the tournament in October.
More than two weeks after massive anti-government protests forced Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, to flee Bangladesh, the country has yet to fully restore law and order. An interim government has struggled so far to convince police officers, who left their posts after Ms. Hasina left, to return to work because they fear reprisals for a violent crackdown on protesters.
The turmoil has prompted many countries, including those with competing teams, to advise against traveling to Bangladesh. Australia, New Zealand, India and Britain have told citizens to avoid travel to Bangladesh.
This meant it “wasn’t feasible” to hold the tournament in Bangladesh despite the best efforts of the local cricket authorities, Geoff Allardice, the I.C.C. chief executive, said in a statement.
The 2024 edition is the ninth T20 World Cup, which the I.C.C. calls the “marquee women’s event” in cricket. The body said the tournament’s games will be played at stadiums in Dubai and Sharjah from Oct. 3 to Oct. 20.
Bangladesh last hosted the tournament in 2014.
Concerns had grown about the ability of Bangladesh, where cricket is hugely popular, to host the World Cup since the anti-government protests began in July.
Alyssa Healy, the captain of the Australian team, the defending champions, said on Monday that it would not be appropriate to play cricket in Bangladesh while it is dealing with political instability.
“I’d find it really hard to see a cricket event going on over there at the moment and taking resources away from a country that is really struggling,” she told reporters on Monday.
The U.A.E., where the I.C.C. is headquartered, has long been a major venue for international cricket games.
Source: The New York Times
