England's T20 World Cup Plans Unchanged

Captain Heather Knight has assured that England's preparations for the T20 World Cup remain unaffected by the sudden change in venue from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates, despite the switch happening just six weeks before the tournament begins on October 3.

The decision to relocate the tournament was made by the International Cricket Council due to civil unrest in Bangladesh. Although the conditions in the UAE will differ slightly, Knight, 33, believes the impact will be minimal.

Knight mentioned that while they had been preparing for Bangladesh for several years, this late change wouldn’t disrupt their plans significantly. She noted that the move might even offer players more freedom outside of hotel confines, which she viewed as a positive aspect.

Expressing sympathy for the Bangladesh women’s team, Knight remarked that it was unfortunate they wouldn’t have the chance to host the World Cup at home but agreed that relocating the event was the correct course of action.

One noticeable difference between playing in Sharjah and Dubai compared to Bangladesh will be the smaller crowd sizes. Knight acknowledged this and mentioned that it would be something she’d discuss with the team. Recalling her experience during the 2014 World Cup in Bangladesh, she noted the large, enthusiastic crowds, particularly in Sylhet, which created a vibrant atmosphere. However, she emphasised that the excitement of a World Cup should be motivation enough for the players.

England is set to kick off their World Cup campaign on October 5 in Sharjah against Bangladesh, followed by matches against 2023 finalists South Africa, Scotland, and the West Indies in the group stage before moving on to the semi-finals.