ICC to move T20 World Cup 2024 to England from West Indies & USA: Reports: In the latest developments amid the anticipation for the ICC WTC Final, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to move the T20 World Cup 2024 out of West Indies and the USA due to inadequate infrastructure in the latter country. Reportedly, the apex cricket body is mulling England as the replacement host for the T20 World Cup 2024.
As per the reports, the USA is racing against time to boost its cricketing infrastructure. The improper facilities in the country might push ICC to take the step of awarding hosting rights of the World Cup event to England.
Notably, England along with Scotland and Ireland are set to host the 2030 T20 World Cup, however, the ICC could ask to swap the hosting rights between Europe and West Indies & the USA.
If ICC successfully manages to convince Europe, then the 2024 T20 World Cup will be held in England, Scotland and Ireland while the T20 World Cup of 2030 will be awarded to West Indies and the USA.
The ICC source informed that such a decision would allow the USA to upgrade and develop its cricketing infrastructure in a better-planned way, otherwise, it would be a rushed process.
“There is a situation at hand. The current infrastructure situation in the USA is not very encouraging and it is likely that the ICC could well swap the hosts for the 2024 and 2030 editions of the event. It will also allow USA Cricket to get the infrastructure in order before 2030 and allow them to set the house in order too,” a source in the know of things told News18 CricketNext.
“Right now, it will be a rushed process to get the venues ready. England were already allotted the 2030 World Cup and they, unlike other nations, can host an event in June-July.”
Meanwhile, the former USA Cricket official also confirmed that the cricket stadiums in the country are not ready for the 2024 T20 World Cup and even if prepared in haste, the official doubted that it may fail to withstand the ICC’s standards. He said, there are a number of checklists that ICC needs to review in order for the venue to make a cut.
“I can tell you that the ICC site visits which happened recently, many parks, free spaces with some green cover to be precise, were being explored to have a modular set-up in place for the World Cup. Modular stands and everything else also modular in nature. But it’s going to be one hell of a task to even pull that off and even if they do, not entirely sure whether it would meet ICC standards. There are a lot of ICC checklists for a venue and I highly doubt the modular or the makeshift venues will make the cut,” the former USA cricket official said.
The 2024 T20 World Cup will have a slight difference in the format. The tournament will have 20 teams fighting for the elusive trophy. 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each. The initial round will be followed by the Super 8s, where two groups will be formed of four teams each. The top two teams of each group will make it to the knockout round.
Head to ICC’s official website for more details.
