Political unrest prompts relocation of Women's T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to UAE

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the Women’s T20 World Cup - scheduled to be played in Bangladesh - will now be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ICC made the decision following recent political unrest in Bangladesh and subsequent travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams cautioning against trips to the country.

The move to relocate the tournament comes after more than 300 people were killed in protests in the country that began in July and resulted in the ousting of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the start of the month.

Games for the 10-team tournament will now take place across two venues in the UAE - Dubai and Sharjah - from 3rd to 20th October.

Advising of the tournament’s relocation, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said it was “a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh", adding “I would like to thank the team at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for exploring all avenues to try and enable the event to be hosted in Bangladesh, but travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams meant that wasn’t feasible.

"However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future."

Allardice also thanked the Emirates Cricket Board for "stepping in to host on behalf of the BCB”.

Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were also thanked for their "generous offers of support”.

The competition will be hoping that this year can replicate the last edition in 2022 in New Zealand, which the ICC revealed was its most digitally engaged women’s event ever.

In 2021, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the ICC relocate the Men’s T20 World Cup from India to the UAE and Oman.

Image: Students protest at Bangladesh's Dhaka University last month. Credit: Samiuzzamansami/Shutterstock.