UAE Confirmed as New Host for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, initially scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, will now be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this October. The decision comes as part of a strategic move due to unforeseen circumstances.
Women’s T20 World Cup Relocates to UAE
The much-anticipated ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will now be held in the UAE, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) continuing its role as the event’s official host. The tournament will unfold across two renowned venues in the UAE—Dubai and Sharjah—from October 3 to October 20.
In a statement, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice expressed his disappointment that the event could not be held in Bangladesh. He stated that “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. However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking part in an ICC global event in Bangladesh in the near future.
“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 countries in 2026.”
UAE: A Rising Hub for Global Cricket
The UAE, which houses the ICC headquarters, has rapidly emerged as a central hub for international cricket. The nation has successfully hosted various significant cricket events in recent years, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, which it co-hosted with Oman.
With top-tier facilities and infrastructure, the UAE is well-prepared to host the Women’s T20 World Cup. The country’s growing stature in the cricket world is further highlighted by the rising performance of its men’s and women’s teams, currently ranked 16th in the ICC T20I Team Rankings.
ICC Chair Greg Barclay to Step Down in November
In related news, ICC Chairperson Greg Barclay has announced that he will step down from his position after his term concludes in November. Barclay, who was appointed as the Independent ICC Chair in November 2020 and re-elected unopposed in 2022, has confirmed his decision to the ICC Board.
Nominations for the next ICC Chair are to be submitted by August 27, 2024. If more than two candidates are nominated, an election will be held, with the new Chair’s term beginning on December 1, 2024.
