Cricket Enthusiasts Eagerly Await Women’s T20 World Cup Amidst Travel Restrictions and BCB Turmoil
The upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup is facing unprecedented challenges as various governments impose travel restrictions on their citizens visiting Bangladesh, the host nation. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is grappling with its own internal crisis, with the board president missing since the recent political upheaval.
According to the report, the Bangladesh government is making last-ditch efforts through the United Nations (UN) to retain the hosting rights for the tournament. Asif Mahmud, the youth and sports adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, stated that they will discuss the travel restrictions with the UN.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the participating boards that it is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and will consider all options, including the possibility of moving the tournament to a different location. The governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and New Zealand have either advised their citizens against traveling to Bangladesh or discouraged them from doing so.
The travel bans or restrictions can only be lifted by the respective governments, and cricket boards have little influence over these decisions. The BCB considers this as its biggest obstacle in hosting the tournament.
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the World Cup, the BCB is also facing a major internal crisis. The board’s president, Nazmul Hassan, who was also the former sports minister, has gone missing since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. Several directors with political connections are also untraceable.
Asif Mahmud, the youth and sports adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, has discussed the possibility of an interim body to run the BCB. However, he acknowledged the need for the board’s autonomy in decision-making.
The situation has sparked a growing call for reform within the BCB. Syed Ashraful Huq, a former BCB general secretary and one of the architects of Bangladesh’s ICC Full Membership in 2000, has criticized the board’s performance and lack of planning over the past 24 years.
As the cricket community in Bangladesh eagerly awaits the Women’s T20 World Cup, the challenges posed by travel restrictions and the BCB’s internal turmoil have created an uncertain environment. The upcoming weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of the tournament and the future direction of Bangladeshi cricket.
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