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• ICC Women's T20 World Cup to be moved to the UAE

  The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be moved from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates.

  The event, scheduled to take place from October 3–20, will now be staged in Dubai and Sharjah.

  The venue was changed following the countrywide anti-government agitations in Bangladesh through July and early August, which ended when Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, resigned and fled to India. An interim government has been put in place by the army since, but widespread incidents of vandalism and looting, as well as acts of violence, have been reported from Bangladesh.

  As a result, Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (England and Scotland) had issued travel advisories to their citizens to not travel to Bangladesh.

  ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice confirmed the move in a press release on Tuesday.

  “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. I would like to thank the team at the BCB for exploring all avenues to try and enable the event to be hosted in Bangladesh, but travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams meant that wasn’t feasible. However, they will retain hosting rights," Allardice said.

  "We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future. I’d also like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to host on behalf of the BCB and Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for their generous offers of support, and we look forward to seeing ICC global events in both of those countries in 2026," he added.

  ICC Chair Greg Barclay confirmed to the Board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down from the post when his current tenure finishes at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the Independent ICC Chair in November 2020, before being re-elected in 2022.

  Current directors are now required to put forward nominations for the next Chair by August 27, 2024, and if there is more than one candidate, an election will be held with the term of the new Chair commencing on December 1, 2024.

   

• Hayley Matthews ‘Life Stories’ documentary released

  The Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) will be releasing a new documentary on the cricketing journey of Hayley Matthews, the number one ranked T20 all-rounder.  

  The ‘Life Stories’ film follows Matthews from her childhood in Barbados to winning the T20 World Cup and claiming the WCPL title. As a cricketer who is a regular in both the international and global franchise game, her story as a superb athlete in multiple disciplines to the top of world cricket is brilliantly told by Director, Paul Pritchett-Brown and Director of Photography, Arjun Choudary. 

  The film will be broadcast on Willow in the USA, TNT Sport in the UK, TV6 in Trinidad, Fancode in India, Fox Sports in Australia and SportsMax in the Caribbean. The film will also be available to watch on the Caribbean Premier League’s YouTube channel. 

  The film’s Director, Paul Pritchett-Brown, said: “It was a real pleasure to work with Hayley and her family to produce this film. The final product is a testament to their commitment to helping us tell this story. Hayley is one of the most impressive athletes the Caribbean has produced, and it was an honour to be able to make this film about her journey.” 

  Pete Russell, CEO of the CPL and Executive Producer of this film, said: “It is so important that we take the time to tell the stories of the wonderful cricketers that bring our tournaments to life, and this film is a beautiful example of what can be done when given this level of access. I would like to thank Hayley and her family for their commitment to the project and I am looking forward to the cricketing world enjoying this brilliantly put together film.” 

  Hayley Matthews said: “It was a fantastic experience to work with the CPL team to put together this documentary on my journey into cricket and myself and my family are really excited for the world to see it. My story has many more chapters left to be told but it is great to able to showcase how I got to where I am today.”

   

• Pope: Stokes will 'let me do my own thing' as stand-in England captain

  Ollie Pope believes Ben Stokes will let him "do his own thing" when he steps up as England captain in the all-rounder's absence.

  Stokes suffered a hamstring injury playing in The Hundred earlier this month, ruling him out of their three-Test series against Sri Lanka.

  England are looking to build on their 3-0 sweep of West Indies in July, in which Pope shone, scoring a sixth Test hundred and two half-centuries.

  The 26-year-old, England's usual vice-captain, will still have Stokes' guidance if needed as he is due to be in the dressing room for the Tests despite his injury.

  Pope admitted he had already turned to the 33-year-old for advice but is ready to step into the role for the first Test.

  "It is still Stokesy's team and if I want to lean on him, I can, but I think he will let me do my own thing. He has said he is happy to do that," Pope said.

  "He will be watching and chat with Baz [Test coach Brendon McCullum] so I can have those conversations in the intervals if I think something needs to change.

  "I know how well he has managed our bowlers, especially, so I have picked his brains on it, but it will be a lot of the same messages with a different voice and in my own way.

  "It's about not overcomplicating it for me. I think I read the game fairly well and Stokesy and I have often been of the same mindset. As the series goes on, it will let itself out for me.

  "Brooky has a great cricket brain, [Joe Root] too, so there is plenty of experience out there to bounce a few ideas off.

  "Everyone is pretty clear how they want to go about this week and the series in general."

  England have won their last three Test series against Sri Lanka, one at home and two away, but were beaten by the tourists in 2014.

  "We don't underestimate any of the teams that come over here," Pope added. "Our target is to win 3-0, but we realise Sri Lanka have got some good experienced guys who have played a lot of Test matches.

  "The main focus is on ourselves. We will just play our best cricket and try and put on a good performance. Hopefully, the scoreboard at the end reflects that."

  England’s first Test against Sri Lanka will begin on Wednesday at Old Trafford.