The UAE, India and Sri Lanka are in the shortlist to be back-up venues in case the International Cricket Council (ICC) is forced to shift the women's T20 World Cup later this year out of Bangladesh, report agencies.
Bangladesh has been rocked by anti-government agitations over the last few weeks, leading to several deaths. On Monday, prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and flied to India, with army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman assuming charge with a view to establishing an interim government. Among properties belonging to members of Hasina's Awami League party that were destroyed by the protestors was former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza's residence in Narail, roughly 150 kilometres from Dhaka.
As it stands, the ten-team women's tournament is scheduled to be held from October 03-20 but the ICC has informally jotted down alternative venues.
An ICC official said on Monday that the situation in Bangladesh was being monitored and all options had been kept open. "The ICC is closely monitoring developments in co-ordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their security agencies and our own independent security consultants," an ICC statement said. "Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants."
Following Monday's developments, the governments of at least three countries that will be part of the event - Australia, England and India - have issued travel advisories to their citizens against visiting Bangladesh.
The ICC has started working on options for the back-up venue. While India and Sri Lanka are well equipped to host a multi-nation tournament on short notice, some questions remain. With Sri Lanka, there is a threat of rain in October, while with India, the issue of visas for the Pakistan team could be a hurdle.
"The BCB has confirmed to the PCB their men's 'A' cricket team's departure for Islamabad has been delayed by 48 hours due to unforeseen circumstances. The BCB and PCB have been in regular contact for the past two days and will continue to work together on the revised tour itinerary"
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh A team's departure for Pakistan has been delayed by at least 48 hours due to unavailable circumstances, a press release of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated.
The Bangladesh A Team was scheduled to leave for Pakistan tonight (Tuesday) to play two four-day and three one day matches against Pakistan A.
The press release said that the BCB is in constant communication with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the A Team's tour.
Earlier, the Bangladesh A Team was scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Tuesday (August 6) evening to play two four-day and three one day matches against Pakistan A (Shaheens).
"The Bangladesh A Team's departure for Pakistan has been delayed by at least 48 hours due to unavailable circumstances," BCB said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in constant communication with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the A Team's tour," it added.
Former Test skippers Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque, along with Shahadat Hossain, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Nayeem Hasan and Hasan Mahmud, are part of the Bangladesh A team for the first four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens, to prepare for the two-match Test series, and will return home after that.
Meanwhile, BCB officials said that they are also waiting to see whether they can start their preparation for the upcoming tour of Pakistan that was hampered due to country-wide curfew.
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