Bangladesh interim govt trying hard to host Women’s T20 World Cup: Reports

After the political upheaval in the country which led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the country after deadly protests on August 5, Bangladesh is now trying hard to keep the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 hosting rights with themselves. 

Cricbuzz reported that since the Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmaul Hassan and a few of the directors have been missing from the country ever since the fall of the Awami League government, it has become difficult to keep the International Cricket Council in confidence regarding the hosting rights. 

"The BCB president is missing. But BCB is an autonomous federation and we cannot give them any decision. We can give and take suggestions from BCB," Asif Mahmud, the youth and sports advisor of Bangladesh's interim government was quoted as saying to reporters by Cricbuzz. 

Despite such a big problem as a missing president and no chance of imminent elections to have a new one, Mahmud is working hard to keep the World Cup in Bangladesh.

"We have suggested that the directors of the BCB [should] look at how to resolve the issue within the ICC's legal framework,” he said. 

Also Read: When politics and violence interrupted cricket

Discussing how the interim government is looking to make a last-ditch effort to keep the World Cup in the eye of many restrictions on the country after the protests, Mahmud said, "There are travel restrictions for some countries and so we will speak with the United Nations.

“There are some issues regarding security and infrastructure and we will talk in this regard with Professor Yunus. He (Yunus) is a sports lover and we hope that he can resolve the matter," he added, summarising the plans which involve the Chief Advisor to the interim government, Noble Laureate Muhammad Yunus. 

The Women's T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin from October 3 in Bangladesh. The 10-team tournament is slated to be played in Dhaka and Sylhet. 

Mahmud and Yunus would also have to remember that the ICC would tolerate no government involvement in the BCB's day-to-day affairs. The ICC had previously suspended Sri Lanka Cricket for the same reason from November 2023 to January 2024. 

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