Zimbabwe, UAE likely options for ICC to shift Women's T20 World Cup 2024 from Bangladesh

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will start on October 3. 

Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have emerged as the two strongest options to host the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the competition could be moved out of Bangladesh. This development comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected the ICC’s offer of hosting the upcoming marquee tournament.

Notably, Bangladesh are the host of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to get underway on October 3 with the warm-up matches starting a week earlier.

Amid the ongoing protests in Bangladesh against the previous Sheikh Hasina government and the civil unrest in the country, the ICC is reportedly looking to move the competition outside Bangladesh due to security concerns.

Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) approached the BCCI, but BCCI secretary Jay Shah rejected the offer, citing the monsoon season as a reason and the fact that India will host the ODI Women’s World Cup next year.

“They [ICC] have asked us if we would conduct the World Cup. I have categorically said no. We’re in the monsoon and on top of that we will host the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup next year. I don’t want to give any kind of signals that I want to hold consecutive World Cups,” Jay Shah told TOI.

Zimbabwe and UAE boards express interest in hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Zimbabwe and the UAE have been considered the top two options to host the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 if the ICC takes the tournament away from Bangladesh. The report further added that the ICC is expected to decide on August 20.

Recently, Zimbabwe hosted the ODI World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. They will also be the co-hosts of the men’s U-19 World Cup with Namibia in 2026 and the ODI World Cup with South Africa and Namibia in 2027.

Harare Sports Club and Buwayo’s Queens Sports Club are two venues in Zimbabwe that can host the ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in October.

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