Bangladesh a country is in turmoil after a protest from students in the country against a contentious job quota rule. Also, a government’s attempts at suppression into a huge political uprising leads to a protest as well. Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina resigned from the position and flew to India. All of the political tensions can also affect Bangladesh cricket directly, or indirectly. A lot of speculations are coming in regarding Bangladesh’s inability to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Today, we will talk specifically about how Bangladesh’s protest hinders cricket in the country, its impact on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and much more. So let’s dive into it quickly.
Table of Contents
What is happening in Bangladesh Bangladesh Cricket right now?
Beginning as a student protest against a divisive job quota rule, it escalated into a massive political revolt that may have resulted in the greatest acts of violence in the nation’s history since its independence in 1971, partly as a reaction to attempts at repression by the government.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister (PM), Sheikh Hasina resigned from the position and left the country immediately, in fear of things getting worse for her. She flew to India on Monday for an escape.
We can see how people in the country steal and damage properties that belong to Sheikh Hasina and her family. They are also looting and vandalizing which belongs to the government of Bangladesh. Also, the public desecrated and demolished statues of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (considered as the father of the nation).
An interim government came into existence for a while in Bangladesh
Due to this incident, the country’s Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and President Mohammad Shahabuddin have to form an interim government. It means that’s the end of the 15-year rule of an Awami League party. An interim government will see all the happenings in the country for a while.
How will the political imbalance affect Bangladesh cricket?
Bangladesh Cricket A team’s departure has been delayed
Bangladesh A Men’s cricket team has to leave for Islamabad on Tuesday (August 06), but couldn’t due to the closure of Dhaka Airport. They will now travel to Islamabad on August 10.
“They scheduled it to be the first day of the series, but it can’t be possible now.” The matches will now start from August 13.
Interruptions in training of men’s and women’s Bangladesh cricket team
The senior men’s team has to cancel some training sessions before leaving for Pakistan. They are scheduled to depart for Pakistan on August 16. The departure date has not altered, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (Pakistan Cricket Board) and BCB operations departments have continued to communicate with each other.
The situation also hampers the training of Bangladesh women’s team training. They came from Sri Lanka after playing an Asia Cup, where they managed to reach the semifinal. The women’s team has been preparing for the T20 WC, which is scheduled to take place in the country.
Bangladesh might lose the hosting rights of T20 WC 2024
After a Bangladesh protest, uncertainty has surrounded BCB’s ability to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The ICC (International Cricket Council) has been monitoring the situation in Bangladesh, and if the unrest in the country continues, they might lose the hosting of a marquee tournament.
“The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their security agencies and our independent security consultants. Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants,” said the ICC spokesperson to IANS.
Concerns have been raised regarding the ICC’s interpretation of the facts. Due to a breach of its obligations as an ICC member, specifically “the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka,” the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket last year for two months.”
Does BCB also form an interim set-up as well?
For various reasons, the National Sports Council established ad hoc or interim committees in 2007 and 2013 to oversee the BCB. There might be a case this time around as well. Right now, anything we say regarding the BCB’s future is, at most, uncertain.
In October 2025, the BCB will hold its next elections. However, considering the highly politicised composition of the board, it is difficult to imagine any of the directors—especially President Nazmul Hassan—returning to the Mirpur job.
Since early 2024, Nazmul has also served as Bangladesh’s minister of sports. In the general elections of 2024, BCB director Shafiul Alam Chowdhury was elected as an MP for the Awami League. Hasina’s cousins, directors Sheikh Sohel and Nazib Ahmed, and former MPs Naimur Rahman and AJM Nasir Uddin are among the other board members with political ties.
What about Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib al Hasan?
We have seen over the past few years that two of the greats of Bangladesh cricket, Shakib al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza have entered into politics as well. There is an uncertainty on their positions as well.
Shakib becomes the Player-of-the-Match award after leading the Bangla Tigers Mississauga to a two-wicket victory over the Surrey Jaguars on Monday, just hours after the government in Dhaka fell. It’s unclear, though, if political circumstances will affect his ability to play international cricket.
Also, many were offended by Mashrafe Mortaza’s silence about the students’ movement. During his playing career and as Bangladesh’s captain from 2014 to 2020, he was well-known for his down-to-earth demeanour. He entered into politics in 2018 and became the first active international cricketer to be a Member of Parliament. Mortaza coming back in this role is uncertain now.
Conclusion
So this is the situation in Bangladesh and it is affecting their cricket as well. Let’s see how the situation panned out in the country. What do you think? Will this unrest in Bangladesh cost them the hosting rights of the T20 WC?
Riyan Parag Talks About How He Deal With The Trolls, Hard Times, And A Comeback
FAQs:-
(1) When will the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 begin?
The tournament will begin on October 03 and the final will happen on October 20.
(2) What will be the venues for the Women’s T20 WC 2024?
Dhaka and Sylhet will be the venues for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
(3) What happened when ICC suspended SL last year?
They lost the hosting rights of the Under-19 World Cup but were allowed to play international cricket after the suspension of over two months.
(4) What will be the venues if the Women’s T20 WC 2024 doesn’t happen in Bangladesh?
One of the venues: India, Sri Lanka, or UAE might be the backup options if the tournament won’t happen in Bangladesh.
