DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday officially announced that the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be relocated from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Although the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will retain its role as the event’s host, all matches of the tournament will now be played in Dubai and Sharjah.
The decision comes after the ICC assessed various logistical and safety concerns. The ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October 2024, will feature games exclusively in the UAE, with Dubai and Sharjah selected as the host cities.
In a statement, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice expressed regret over the change in plans. “It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would have staged a memorable event,” Allardice said.
He praised the BCB for its efforts to accommodate the tournament but noted that travel advisories from several participating teams’ governments made it impractical to hold the event in Bangladesh.
“However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future,” Allardice added.
The ICC’s decision also highlights the crucial role played by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), which has stepped in to host the tournament on behalf of the BCB. “I’d also like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to host on behalf of the BCB and Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for their generous offers of support,” Allardice said. He noted that the ICC anticipates hosting global events in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 2026.
The change in venue does not diminish the excitement surrounding the tournament, which will see the world’s top women cricketers competing in the UAE. Australia, the defending champions, won the previous Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final.
