Fate of Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh uncertain

The International Cricket Council is closely monitoring the unrest in Bangladesh, where the Women's T20 World Cup will be held from October 3 to 20.

Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has resigned and left the country amid mass protests against her government. These protests, driven by a controversial quota system reserving 30% of government jobs for families of veterans from the 1971 independence war, have led to significant unrest, with over 100 lives lost in recent days.

An interim government will be taking over in Bangladesh, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced on Monday in Dhaka.

"The ICC has an independent security monitoring system across all its member nations. The situation is being monitored closely but with seven weeks left for the tournament to begin, it will be too early to comment whether the tournament will be shifted from Bangladesh," an ICC board member told PTI.

The ICC source said a similar situation of unrest was there in Sri Lanka in March 2022 when protesters stormed former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence citing corruption and inflation. However, the Australian cricket team had travelled there for a bilateral series in June.

However, with the current advisory from India's Ministry of External Affairs against traveling to Bangladesh and considering the volatile situation, the ICC is preparing contingency plans. Sri Lanka, which hosted the men's T20 World Cup in 2012, is a potential alternative venue.

The decision will also depend on whether teams from South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia deem it safe to travel to Bangladesh given the security concerns. The BCCI will follow the Indian government's advice regarding participation.

Bangladesh 'A' team's arrival in Pakistan delayed

The Bangladesh 'A' team's arrival in Pakistan has been delayed by 48 hours because of the fluid situation in Bangladesh following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had informed them that their men's 'A' team's departure for Islamabad has been delayed.

"The BCB and PCB have been in regular contact for the past two days and will continue to work together on the revised tour itinerary with further details to follow in due course," a board spokesperson said.

The Bangladesh 'A' team was due to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of Wednesday for two four-day and three 50-over matches from August 10-27.

The Bangladesh national team is also due to reach Pakistan on the August 17 for a two-Test series but due to the uncertain situation in Bangladesh, where the army has announced it would form an interim government, the PCB is awaiting confirmation from the BCB.

The series is part of the ICC's World Test Championship.