Why is the ICC concerned over the 2024 Women's World Cup scheduled to be held in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh president Sheikh Hasina's resignation on Monday, August 5, has sent shockwaves in the political world. The tremors have also reached the International Cricket Council (ICC), which had kept arrangements ready for the October 2024 Women's T20 World Cup in the country.

Bangladeshi youth has been protesting against Hasina's party's decision to bring government job quotas for descendants of those who protested in the freedom movement against Pakistan. The protests recently turned violent and police crackdown led to hundreds of deaths, multiple curfews and more anger amongs resisting group.

It cultimated in an ambush at her official residence, the military taking temporary power and Hasina fleeing to India. The ICC, which is yet to begin the ticketing and media accreditation process, told media that it is "closely monitoring" the situation.

“The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their security agencies and our own independent security consultants. Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants,” an ICC spokesperson said in a statement.

The sports teams in the country are already facing difficulties in continuing their practice for upcoming tournaments. In such an unpredictable situation, hosting a tournament as big as a 10-team World Cup even if it was limited to just two venues would not be possible until things dramatically improve.

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Shifting a T20 World Cup at the last minute would be an arduous task

But at the same time, shifting the tournament might be an even tougher job logistically. Usually South Africa has been prepared to take up last-minute changes like this as it did with the Under-19 World Cup when Sri Lanka Cricket was banned. But whether or not it could do it in such short period with a situation that's still developing would be interesting to see.

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