New Delhi: Uncertainty cloud looms large over the Women’s T20 World Cup to be hosted by Bangladesh later this year as the country’s political crisis worsens following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and fleeing the country on Monday. Although the tournament is still two months away, there might be a possibility that the Women’s T20 World Cup might move away to a neutral venue. The event is to be organised from October 3 to 20.
An interim government will be taking over in Bangladesh, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced on Monday in Dhaka amid massive protests against the Hasina government that claimed more than 100 lives in the last two days. Bangladesh has been witnessing fierce demonstrations over a controversial quota system that reserves 30 per cent of jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war. According to a source, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is likely to see changes in the administration once the interim government takes over.
To add more to that, BCB president and Minister of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh, Nazmul Hasan Papon’s house also been lighted by the protesters. With so much going on in the country, neither the BCCI nor the International Cricket Council (ICC) could go ahead the ticketing process or even the media accreditation, which usually starts two months before the start of the event.
“Too early to predict now. After 72 hours we can say something,” the source told India.com exclusively on Monday when asked about the future of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the ICC will have a ‘wait and watch’ policy now.
“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.
As of now, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has “strongly advised Indian nationals against travelling to Bangladesh till further notice.” The BCCI has always gone by government advice in these kind of situations.
The ICC has contingency plans for unavoidable situations but Sri Lanka can be an option considering that the 2012 men’s T20 World Cup was held there between September and October. It will be interesting to see if the SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) send their women’s teams to a country where security situation could remain vulnerable.
