New Format for 2024 Men’s WT20:
In a recent release by the cricket governing body, the International Cricket Council, a new format for the next edition of the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be staged in the United States of America and West Indies in 2024, has been introduced. As per the ICC’s rules, both host sides have automatically qualified for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
WHO HAS QUALIFIED?
Before discussing the change in format, let us see which teams we have on board, as of yet, for the upcoming T20 World cup:
A total of 20-teams will participate in the mega-event which will last for around 55 20-over matches among twenty nations. So far 12 teams have reserved their berth for the mega event including both of the hosting nations, the champions of the recently concluded T20 World cup, England, the runners up, Pakistan and other teams like them who finished in one of the top four positions of their respective groups in 2022 T20 World Cup.
Apart from these 10 nations, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will also start their World cup journey without playing a qualifier as their rankings as of 14th November helped them get on the train to the next T20 World cup without any hassle. Explaining it, the ICC said, “Qualifying as hosts alongside the West Indies, the tournament will be ground-breaking for the USA, hosting their first global event. As hosts, the West Indies and the USA take up the first two spots for 2024. From there, performances at the 2022 edition, and the ICC T20I rankings cut-off on November 14, determined the next 10 teams.”
The International Cricket Council further said, “The top eight teams in Australia (top four in each Super 12 group) gained spots for the 2024 tournament, with Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the next best teams on the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, also securing their spot.”
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The remaining 8 berths will be booked by the teams from 5 regions who will play and ultimately supersede others in the regional qualifiers instead of global qualifiers. The ICC has reserved two qualification spots for Africa, Asia and Europe, while only one spot for America and the East-Asia Pacific region.
CHANGE IN FORMAT:
With 20 teams competing, the change in format became a necessity. The World cup will be played in a different format than it was played in the 2021 and 2022 World cup. The 20 teams will be divided into 4 groups of five teams each, who will play against their group fellows in what will be the first round of the tournament. The teams from all four groups who finish at the top two positions will progress to the Super 8 round instead of 2021 and 2022’s Super 12 round.
The Super 8 teams will be divided into two groups. Top two teams, eventually, from both groups will make it to the semi finals which will be followed by the final match.
“The top two teams in each of the four groups of five will move to a Super Eight phase, where the remaining sides will be split into two groups of four.” ICC stated. “The top two in each group will then make their way to the semi-finals.” the statement added.
