It’s nearly time for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. England enters as defending champions, having won in Australia in 2022. But this edition promises fierce competition, with a record number of teams participating. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the ninth instalment of this 20-over global extravaganza.
Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Schedule and Start Date
The tournament kicks off on June 2 at 06:00 IST with hosts United States taking on Canada in Texas. Matches are also scheduled in the Caribbean. The initial 20-team group stage, featuring four groups of five, runs until June 18, with daily fixtures. Following that, the Super 8s commence, featuring two matches most days until June 25, leading up to the semi-finals on June 27. The ultimate showdown, the final, takes place on Saturday, June 29, at 20:00 IST in Barbados.
Format for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup
This year’s tournament is the largest yet, with 20 teams, reverting to an older format. All teams participate from the outset in a group stage, each playing four games, with the top two advancing to the Super 8s. The Super 8s, held exclusively in the Caribbean, consist of two groups of four, with eight seeded teams to streamline planning and scheduling. Progressing teams are assigned to Groups 1 or 2 based on their seeding, not their group stage finish. In the Super 8s, the top two teams from each group move to the semi-finals, with group winners facing the runners-up from the other pool. Teams earn two points for a win, one for a no result, and none for a loss, as there are no ties in T20 cricket.
Competing Teams in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup
The expanded event sees the participation of most major cricketing nations. The sole Test-playing nation not to qualify is Zimbabwe, who fell short in their qualifier tournament. The 20 teams are divided into four groups for the initial phase.
– Group A: Canada, India (A1), Ireland, Pakistan (A2), USA
– Group B: Australia (B2), England (B1), Namibia, Oman, Scotland
– Group C: Afghanistan, New Zealand (C1), Papua New Guinea, Uganda, West Indies (C2)
– Group D: Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, South Africa (D1), Sri Lanka (D2)
Venues and Stadiums for the 2024 T20 World Cup
The tournament marks cricket’s first major global event in the United States, with 16 of 55 matches scheduled there. Games will be hosted in Florida, New York, and Texas. New York’s stadium is specifically built for the event, featuring a pitch flown in from Adelaide and temporary seating. In the Caribbean, matches will be held in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Rules for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup
Matches follow the T20 format, with each team facing 20 overs, unless they’re bowled out earlier or the chasing team reaches the target. Innings begin with a six-over powerplay, with specific fielding restrictions. Matches aim to conclude within three hours and 10 minutes, with innings lasting an hour and 25 minutes each, separated by a 20-minute interval. This tournament introduces the ‘stop-clock’, requiring the bowling side to start each over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending. Teams have two unsuccessful reviews per inning. In case of tied scores after 20 overs, a super over decides the winner, continuing until a victor emerges. Minimum overs for a result increase from five to ten in the semi-finals and final. The Duckworth-Lewis Stern method applies if a match is affected by weather. The first semi-final and final have reserve days, while the second semi-final has an extra 250-minute time allowance.
Previous Men’s T20 World Cup Winners
The tournament has seen six different winners out of eight editions:
– 2007: India
– 2009: Pakistan
– 2010: England
– 2012: West Indies
– 2014: Sri Lanka
– 2016: West Indies
– 2021: Australia
– 2022: England