The International Cricket Council (ICC) today moved the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE, saying it “wasn’t feasible” to conduct the event there after governments of a number of participating countries advised against travelling to the unrest-hit nation. The event, which is scheduled to take place from October 3 to 20, will now be staged in Dubai and Sharjah, with Bangladesh retaining the hosting rights, ensuring that it receives its share of the revenue.
“It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would have staged a memorable event,” ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said in a statement which avoided any direct mention of the violence and tension in the South Asian nation.
Allardice said the BCB explored “all avenues to try and enable the event to be hosted” there. “…but travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams meant that wasn’t feasible. However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future,” he said.
Smith, Brook lead England charge
Jamie Smith’s unbeaten 72 propelled England to a 23-run lead over Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the opening Test at Old Trafford where only 57 overs were bowled after the first session was washed out and bad light stopped play.
Harry Brook’s 56 guided England within reach of Sri Lanka’s first innings total and the hosts were at 259/6 with Smith at the crease alongside Gus Atkinson when the teams returned to the pavilion as the skies darkened amid a light drizzle.
After posting 236 in the first innings on Wednesday, Sri Lanka could not use their fast bowlers at the end of Day 1 due to bad light as England scored 22 runs off spin in four overs. But after an early lunch due to the wet outfield today, the tourists took full advantage of the cloudy conditions to pick up three wickets in the first hour that put England on the backfoot.
Asitha Fernando opened the bowling on Day 2 and trapped Ben Duckett leg-before in his second over with an inswinging delivery. He then broke through stand-in skipper Ollie Pope’s defence to hit the top of off stump while his left-arm fast bowling counterpart Vishwa Fernando had Dan Lawrence — opening in place of the injured Zak Crawley — caught behind for 30.