📷 Image Credits: Al Jazeera English
The ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 is set to be a historic event with 20 teams participating in the tournament, hosted by the United States and the West Indies from June 1 to 29. This marks the first time the tournament has been expanded to include 20 teams, up from 16 in the previous edition. The top eight teams from the last tournament, along with the host nations, USA and West Indies, earned direct entry into the competition. Additionally, Afghanistan and Bangladesh qualified based on their ICC T20 rankings, while the remaining six teams emerged from regional qualification tournaments held across different continents.
The tournament will feature two group-based rounds followed by a knockout round starting with the semifinals. The 20 teams will be divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Eight phase. The tournament schedule includes group stage matches from June 1 to 17, Super Eight matches from June 18 to 25, semifinals on June 26 and 27, and the final on June 29.
The tournament will be played at nine venues, with matches taking place in the US and across the West Indies. New York, Texas, and Florida will host matches in the US, including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash. The Caribbean nations hosting matches are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The marquee India vs Pakistan match is scheduled to take place in New York on June 9 at the purpose-built modular stadium in Nassau County, Long Island. Tickets for the match sold out quickly, with resale platforms asking for prices ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per seat. This fixture is a perennial favorite, drawing huge crowds and creating a buzz in both countries every time the two teams face off.
The article also covers details about the tournament’s prize money, ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and extensive coverage provided by Al Jazeera. With the T20 World Cup set to be an exciting and action-packed event, cricket fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks.
