Two-year T20 World Cup cycle important for growth of cricket: ICC
Dubai: The ICC on Monday asserted that a two-year T20 Word Cup cycle is important for the growth of the game as it is the format that is contested by all the members.
The global governing body last week announced the schedule of ICC events from 2024-2031 with a tournament slated to be played every year.
“We’ve got different events in different formats. I think the decision to play T20 World Cups every two years is a conscious one to try and position T20 as the growth format of the game across all of our members,” ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said, replying to PTI’s query during a media round table.
“The tournament we’ve just finished in the UAE and Oman was the first one in five years which, given the amount of T20 International cricket being played and the fact that so many of our members are playing that format, is too long.
“The aim is to get it on a two-year rotation so that in terms of that event that becomes a more consistent frequency.
Talking about the ICC Champions trophy which was last held in 2017 and will next be played in 2025, Allardice said the tournament is a “focal point” for ODI cricket midway the four-year World Cup cycle.
“In terms of the Champions Trophy it’s a very popular, well supported event. I think it’s short and sharp and you know, high entertainment in the ODI format and it also provides a focal point for ODI cricket in the midway between the Cricket World Cup cycle of four years.
In the recent T20 Word Cup, there was a trend that teams winning the toss and opting to bowl would emerge victorious. Asked about it, Allardice assured that the same wouldn’t be the case during the next edition.
One of the things about cricket is that when a certain trend establishes itself, the teams and opponents work out a way to counter that. I think if there’s a perception that winning the toss, winning the game existed in this tournament, I’m sure when the teams gather in Australia in 12 months the dynamic will be different.
And I think, whether it’s tactics, talking to various people, it didn’t seem to be one obvious reason why that was the case. And I’m sure that coaches and the analysts and the players will work out a way to counter that.