India turn down offer to host Women's T20 World Cup 2024

BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that India declined the opportunity to host the Women's T20 World Cup 2024. The ICC will make a final call regarding tournament's host on August 20. Initially due to be hosted by Bangladesh between October 3 and 20, political unrest in the country forced ICC to seek alternate venues for the biggest shortest-format event in women's cricket. With India out of the reckoning, the tournament could be shifted to Sri Lanka or the UAE.

"They [ICC] have asked us if we would conduct the World Cup. I have categorically said no," Shah told the Times of India. 

"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."

An ICC official had earlier said that they are keeping a close eye on the developments in Bangladesh with their options open.

"The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB], their security agencies and our own independent security consultants," an ICC statement read. 

"Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants."

With widespread violence in Bangladesh following the ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina, countries like Australia, England and India have issued travel advisories for their citizens heading towards the unrest-ridden nation. The Bangladesh Test team are currently in Pakistan preparing for the two-match series after the violence hampered their practice camp back home.

Bangladesh's men's team is due to visit India for a two-match Test series and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20I), starting September 19. Shah says that the series is very important to the BCCI.

"We've not spoken to them [the Bangladesh authorities]. A new government has taken charge there. They might reach out to us or else I will reach out to them. The Bangladesh series is very important to us."

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