BCCI Secretary Jay Shah stated that India declined the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to host the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in October. The ongoing political instability in Bangladesh has raised doubts about their ability to host the tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is closely monitoring the situation before making a final decision on whether the event will be relocated. Jay Shah mentioned in a recent interview that India will be hosting the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup and emphasized that the BCCI does not want to create the impression that they are eager to host back-to-back World Cups.
“Next year, we’ll host the 50-over women’s World Cup. We do not want to give any signal that we are looking to host consecutive World Cups,” Shah told Times of India.
Jay Shah also expressed the BCCI’s reluctance to host pink-ball Tests. The last pink-ball Test in India was held in Bengaluru in 2022 against Sri Lanka. India did not play a pink-ball series at home during their last two series against Australia and England.
“You purchase a ticket for a five-day match, but the game concludes in 2-3 days… There is no refund. I am somewhat emotional about this,” Shah explained.
In other news, former South African pace legend Morne Morkel has been appointed as the Indian cricket team’s new bowling coach. Morkel, who replaces Paras Mhambrey, will assume his role starting with the Bangladesh series, which begins with the first Test in Chennai on September 19. He has been appointed until the conclusion of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
“Yes, Morne Morkel has been appointed as the bowling coach of the senior India men’s team,” Shah confirmed to PTI.
Morkel was also the preferred choice of Gautam Gambhir, having worked with him at Lucknow Super Giants during Gambhir’s tenure as the franchise’s mentor. The other members of Gambhir’s support staff include assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and fielding coach Ryan Ten Doeschate.
