England T20 World Cup Preparations Unshaken by Venue Change

England captain Heather Knight has assured that the last-minute switch of the T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates will not disrupt her team’s preparations. The change, prompted by civil unrest in Bangladesh, comes just six weeks before the tournament's start on October 3.

Knight, 33, acknowledged the logistical adjustments but expressed confidence that the impact on England’s campaign will be minimal. “The conditions will be slightly different, but not hugely,” Knight said. “We’ve had Bangladesh in our heads for a long time, probably for the last couple of years, in terms of getting the players ready and building the squad.”

While the UAE offers a different environment compared to Bangladesh, Knight noted that the extra time away from the hotel could be beneficial. “As players, it gives us a little more time outside of the hotel room which is always a good thing,” she added.

Knight described the situation as “a shame” for the Bangladesh women's team, who will miss out on hosting the tournament. However, she supported the decision to relocate the event, calling it “the right decision.”

One notable change will be the atmosphere at matches, with smaller crowds expected in Sharjah and Dubai compared to the anticipated larger audiences in Bangladesh. Knight plans to address this with her team. “Having played in Bangladesh in 2014 at the World Cup, we got some really good crowds, particularly in Sylhet, and it was a really good atmosphere,” she reflected. “It’s something we’ll talk about but it’s a World Cup and it shouldn’t take much to get up for that.”

England’s T20 World Cup campaign kicks off on October 5 against Bangladesh in Sharjah. They will also face South Africa, Scotland, and the West Indies in the group stage before advancing to the semi-finals.