With the ongoing growing concerns about the potential relocation of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup due to the unstable political situation in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in agreement with the decision to move the tournament, although it will retain its official status as the host.
During a virtual ICC Board meeting held on Tuesday, August 20, it was confirmed that the United Arab Emirates – Dubai and Sharjah – will be the new host for the Women’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from October 3 to 20.
The prevailing sentiment among Board members was that the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh, marked by internal violence and unrest, makes it untenable to host a global event of this magnitude in the country. Despite the BCB’s efforts to secure army assurances for the tournament, they are believed to have conceded to the relocation, while maintaining their official hosting rights.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, commented, “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. I would like to thank the team at the 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.”
He further thanked the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for stepping in, stating, “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, and we look forward to seeing ICC global events in both of those countries in 2026.”
Bangladesh has been experiencing significant internal chaos, including student protests and political unrest, with reports of violence and casualties continuing even after the recent change in government. These conditions raised substantial concerns during the ICC Board meeting about the safety and feasibility of holding the ten-team tournament in such a volatile environment.
The ICC had been actively considering alternative host nations, with the UAE and Sri Lanka as potential backup venues, after India had backed out. Zimbabwe also volunteered to host the tournament if needed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah recently clarified its stance that it was not interested in hosting consecutive World Cups, citing concerns over weather conditions and the proximity of the Women’s ODI World Cup next year. This decision narrowed the ICC’s options, and while Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka expressed interest, the UAE emerged as the preferred choice, given its favorable weather and time zone alignment with Bangladesh.
The ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup is set to begin with warm-up matches scheduled from September 27, followed by the main event from October 3 to October 20. The ten teams are segregated into two groups, with Group A including defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, while Group B features England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Scotland, and the West Indies.
