The ninth edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is set to captivate cricket fans worldwide as it kicks off on June 2, 2024. This year, the tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States and the West Indies, marking a historic first for the USA as a host of a major global cricket event. Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the biggest global 20-over cricket showpiece.
Schedule and Timings
The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will commence with an exciting opening match between hosts USA and Canada in Texas. The group stage, running from June 2 to June 18, will feature daily matches, with some days hosting two or three games. The Super 8s will begin on June 19, with double-headers on most days, and conclude on June 25. The two semi-finals are scheduled for June 27, followed by the final on June 29 at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Given the multiple time zones across the venues, match timings will vary. Some games will start as early as 6 am IST, including the opener, while others will be scheduled for 8 pm IST. All of India’s group-stage matches will be played at 8 pm IST.
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Format
This year’s tournament will feature 20 teams, making it the largest T20 World Cup in terms of participants. The teams are divided into four groups, each playing four games in the preliminary stage. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super 8s.
In the Super 8s, the teams will be split into two pools of four. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals. Group stage and Super 8 matches will award two points for a win, one for a no result, and none for a loss. Ties will be decided by a Super Over, with multiple Super Overs if necessary to determine a winner.
Teams
The 20 competing teams are divided into the following groups:
- Group A: Canada, India, Ireland, Pakistan, USA
- Group B: Australia, England, Namibia, Oman, Scotland
- Group C: Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, West Indies
- Group D: Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, South Africa, Sri Lanka
Venues
The United States will host 16 of the 55 matches across three venues: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium in Florida, and Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas. The much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan match will be held at the newly constructed Nassau County Stadium in New York on June 9.
In the Caribbean, matches will be played at Kensington Oval (Barbados), Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (Antigua and Barbuda), Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium (Saint Lucia), Guyana National Stadium (Guyana), Arnos Vale Playing Field (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and Brian Lara Cricket Academy (Trinidad & Tobago). The Super 8s and knockout stages will all be held in the West Indies.
Rules and Playing Conditions
The 2024 T20 World Cup will introduce the ‘stop-clock’ rule, requiring the fielding team to be ready to bowl each over within 60 seconds of the previous one finishing. In the group stage and Super 8s, a minimum of five overs per side is required to constitute a result, increasing to 10 overs for the semi-finals and final.
Rain or weather delays have been accounted for with reserve days for the first semi-final and the final. The second semi-final, however, does not have a reserve day due to the tight schedule but allows 250 minutes of additional time for delays.
If India reaches the semi-finals, they will play the second one on June 27 in Providence, Guyana, ensuring a prime-time viewing slot in India.
Previous Winners
Since its inception in 2007, the T20 World Cup has seen six different champions:
- 2007: India
- 2009: Pakistan
- 2010: England
- 2012: West Indies
- 2014: Sri Lanka
- 2016: West Indies
- 2021: Australia
- 2022: England
TV Telecast and Live Streaming
Cricket fans in India can catch all the matches live on the Star Sports Network. Additionally, live streaming will be available on the Hotstar app and website.
As the tournament unfolds across two vibrant regions, fans can look forward to thrilling matches, stunning performances, and memorable moments in the world of T20 cricket.
