The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested security assurances from the country’s Army Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, to ensure the smooth conduct of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The board’s move comes amid ongoing violent protests and a state of emergency imposed by Bangladesh’s interim government.
Key Points:
- Security Request: The BCB has written to General Waker-Uz-Zaman seeking security guarantees for the tournament scheduled to start on September 27 with warm-up games.
- Current Situation: The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, was appointed following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure. Many BCB officials, including President Nazmul Hassan, have left the country due to political instability.
- ICC’s Contingency Plans: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is monitoring the situation and considering alternative host countries if necessary. Potential alternatives include India, UAE, and Sri Lanka, which are in similar time zones to Bangladesh.
- Tournament Details: The Women’s T20 World Cup is set to take place from October 3 to 20, featuring 23 matches across two venues: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.
- ICC Decision Timeline: The ICC is expected to make a final decision on the tournament’s venue by August 10, after assessing the security situation in Bangladesh.
Iftekhar Ahmed Mithu, Chairman of the BCB’s Umpire Committee, expressed hope for hosting the event and emphasized the need for security assurances from law enforcement agencies rather than the cricket board. The BCB will update the ICC once they receive a formal security guarantee from the Army.
