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With the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 set to be played in the coming months, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is looking to shift the tournament out of Bangladesh. While the country is amidst political unrest, India, Sri Lanka and UAE were the top picks as possible hosts for the marquee tournament. But with India pulling out to host the tournament, Zimbabwe is the latest to join the likes of UAE and Sri Lanka to host the tournament in October.
Zimbabwe cricket has expressed strong interest in hosting the 2024 edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup after Jay Shah, Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed India’s bid to not host the tournament. “They (ICC) have asked us if we would conduct the World Cup. I have categorically said no. We're in the monsoon and on top of that we will host the women's ODI World Cup next year. I don't want to give any kind of signals that I want to hold consecutive World Cups,” Jay Shah said.
It is to be noted that Zimbabwe will serve as a neutral host as their women’s team has not qualified for the tournament. Moreover, Harare Sports Club and the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo are set to be the two venues for the tournament, slated to be played in October this year. The country is scheduled to host the 2027 ODI World Cup along with South Africa and Namibia and are also the co-hosts of the U19 World Cup in 2026.
UAE front-runner to host Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
With the ICC naming India, Sri Lanka and UAE as the possible hosts seeing a similar time zones, UAE is the front-runner to host the tournament in October. As reported by Cricbuzz, the ICC is believed to be looking at Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the option but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has sought more time.
“A BCB official said on Thursday (August 15) that it has requested the ICC for five more days before making a call. If the ICC grants the extra time, then it would have to decide on August 20, the day of the board meeting. It is understood that the ICC was originally expected to take the call on the Women's World Cup by August 15,” a report from Cricbuzz read.
