In a major update for the global cricket community, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be relocated from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be held in Dubai and Sharjah from 3-20 October. The relocation follows travel advisories issued by several participating countries, making hosting the tournament in Bangladesh unfeasible. While the UAE will step in to ensure the 2024 tournament goes ahead smoothly, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice confirmed that Bangladesh will retain the hosting rights for the event going forward.
The move to the UAE will have significant commercial impact, especially given the short turnaround times. As a growing centre for international cricket, the UAE offers sponsors the opportunity to expand their reach into the Middle Eastern market, leveraging Dubai and Sharjah’s strong infrastructure and global reputation. Brands already present in the region will benefit from increased exposure, while new market entrants will be able to capitalise on the tournament’s global appeal.
Despite rapid change, the ICC has demonstrated its ability to safeguard both the safety and commercial interests of events, and a successful Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE will further cement the region’s position as a premier destination for international sport.
In addition to the news of the relocation, ICC Chair Greg Barclay announced that he will not seek a third term and will step down at the end of November 2024. Current board members have until August 27, 2024 to nominate a candidate for the next Chair; if there are multiple candidates, an election will be held and the new Chair’s term will begin on December 1, 2024.
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