NEWS
Follow UsThe clouds of uncertainty have started to loom large on the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as hosts Bangladesh saw one of its biggest political unrest in a decade. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, unable to control the anti-quota protesters, flew to the Indian capital New Delhi after resigning from her position on August 5 (Monday).
This has come just 57 days away from the start of the women’s cricket's biggest shortest format event, which the country was scheduled to host for the first time. The 10-team, 23-match tournament is scheduled to kick off on October 3 and will be played in Dhaka and Sylhet. These are the two cities that were also at the centre of the student protests in the country.
Students have been protesting against the 30 per cent reservation in all government jobs for the family members of the veterans of Bangladesh’s War of Independence, fought way back in 1971.
“The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their security agencies and our independent security consultants. Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants,” an ICC spokesperson told Sportstar.
What will happen to the BCB?
Since Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chairman Najmul Hasan Papon is an affiliate member of Sheikh Hasina’s Party Bangladesh Awami League and a Member of the Parliament, it is more likely that there will be a change at the helm of affairs as far as Bangladesh cricket is concerned.
In all this chaos where the country is without a democratically elected head, Bangladesh hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup seems like a far-fetched prospect.
Earlier in May 2024, it was Hasina who along with Bangladesh women’s captain Nigar Sultana and Indian women’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had unveiled the trophy in Dhaka. The then Prime Minister had hosted a Lunch for the two captains as well.
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