Playing World Cup in Bangladesh would be the wrong thing to do
Australia women's team captain Healy expresses concerns about ICC T20 WC in BD
Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Amid growing political turmoil in Bangladesh, Australia women's team captain Alyssa Healy has said that playing the Women's T20 World Cup there 'would be the wrong thing to do'.
The showpiece event was originally scheduled in the Asian nation from October 3 to 20, but the ICC is yet to take a final call, reports Cricbuzz.
"I'd find it hard to fathom playing there [in Bangladesh] at the moment, as a human being, I feel like it might be the wrong thing to do," Healy said. "(That would be) taking resources away from a country that is really struggling. They're needing everyone they can possibly get in there helping people that are dying.
"There's obviously bigger factors at play than putting a cricket tournament on in Bangladesh at the moment ... but I'll leave it to the ICC to work out," Healy added.
The unrest and the overthrowing of the incumbent government had led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country. In the aftermath of the situation, BCB head Nazmul Hasan is reported to have offered to relinquish his post while Jalal Yunus, the board's cricket operations chairman has officially resigned on Monday (August 19).
Even though Bangladesh still retain hopes getting their house in order and hosting the tournament as originally planned, India have ruled themselves out of the reckoning while UAE has emerged as an alternative venue.
While a decision from the ICC is expected today (Tuesday), Healy reckoned a late switch in venue for the tournament will not faze the 2023 champions. Australia toured Bangladesh in March-April this year and came away with a 3-0 T20I series victory, which she believes will hold her team in good stead on slow, turning pitches.