With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deciding not to host the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a leading alternative, even as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) makes a last-ditch effort to keep the tournament within its borders.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), facing a time crunch, is reportedly considering Dubai and Abu Dhabi as viable options. However, the BCB has requested additional time to prepare, hoping to prevent the tournament from being relocated. The ICC is expected to make a final decision soon, likely during an online meeting of directors on August 20, although that meeting has a different primary agenda.
On August 15, a BCB official mentioned that the board has asked the ICC for an additional five days to finalise their preparations. Should the ICC agree, the decision regarding the tournament's location would be made on August 20, the day of the scheduled board meeting. The original deadline for this decision was set for August 15.
India was initially considered as a potential host, but the BCCI declined due to concerns over weather conditions and the proximity of the women's ODI World Cup next year. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed that India would not host the event, citing the monsoon season and a desire to avoid hosting back-to-back World Cups.
Shah's statement made it clear that the ICC is exploring other hosting options due to ongoing instability in Bangladesh. However, the BCB remains hopeful, having requested an extension from the ICC as they work on a plan that would allow them to host the tournament as originally scheduled. The tournament is set to begin with warm-up matches on September 27, with the main event running from October 3 to 20, featuring 10 teams and 23 matches.
The BCB has already sought security assurances from the Army Chief and is in regular communication to resolve the situation. However, the recent violence in Bangladesh has led to several BCB officials, including long-time president Nazmul Hassan, fleeing the country.
The ICC's requirements for the host nation include a time zone similar to Bangladesh and favourable weather conditions, making the UAE an attractive candidate. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) also offers top-tier infrastructure and is reportedly eager to host the event. Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have also expressed interest, but with just 50 days remaining until the tournament's start, the window for making a decision is rapidly closing.
Meanwhile, the August 20 meeting's primary focus is expected to be finalising the terms for an inquiry into the delivery of the recent Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. A panel of three ICC directors—Roger Twose, Lawson Naidoo, and Imran Khwaja—was formed to report on this issue at the ICC's Annual Conference in Colombo last month. While the meeting is primarily convened for this purpose, a decision on the Women's World Cup may also be addressed.