Zimbabwe express interest in hosting Women's T20 World Cup 2024 amid Bangladesh crisis

Zimbabwe has emerged as one of the two options being considered to host the Women's T20 World Cup later this year. The global tournament, which is set to commence on October 3, was initially scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh.

However, it is likely to be moved out of the Asian nation after socio-political tensions have rocked the country and prompted security concerns. The UAE is also in the hunt to host the event after India ruled themselves out on Thursday, August 15. It is understood that a decision is expected to be made by the ICC board on Tuesday, August 20.

Also Read: BCCI turns down ICC's plea to conduct Women's T20 World Cup as Bangladesh grapples with riots

According to ESPNCricinfo, Zimbabwe's interest comes on the back of intentions to promote themselves as a destination for big cricket after successfully hosting the last two ODI World Cup Qualifiers (in 2018 and 2023). The African nation last hosted a World Cup in 2003, along with South Africa and Kenya.

The Zimbabwean men's team did not qualify for two successive ODI World Cups and two of the last three T20 World Cups. Meanwhile, the women's team has never played a World Cup (neither have the UAE's) and will not feature at this year's event either, but Zimbabwe are interested in being neutral hosts of the marquee competition.

Zimbabwe are the co-hosts of the men's Under-19 World Cup with Namibia in 2026 and the ODI World Cup with South Africa and Namibia in 2027. Ahead of these important cricketing events, the nation will have two more international grounds with Zimbabwe Cricket and local government authorities working in unison to build multi-purpose facilities in Victoria Falls and Mutare.

As of now, Zimbabwe has Harare Sports Club (which also has newly installed floodlights) in Harare and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as venues which could host the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup matches. These grounds also hosted all the televised matches in last year's World Cup Qualifiers, with streaming games held at Takashinga Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club.

Also Read: Bangladesh to appeal to UN for retaining Women's T20 World Cup hosting rights

Zimbabwe will be entering the monsoon season in October and rain won't be playing much of a role. This could be a key factor when ICC decides about a shift in the venue of the Women's T20 World Cup. India backed out because the country will be experiencing the last of the monsoon. Sri Lanka is also understood to have slipped out of contention due to weather-related reasons. The cost of organising the tournament in Zimbabwe is comparatively less than that in the UAE. The African country believes that this could also work in their favour.