ICC renames its major T20 global events
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||Desk Report||
The International Cricket Council has announced the renaming of the ICC World T20. Both men's and women's versions of the tournament have been renamed as ICC T20 World Cup and the next editions of the events in 2020 in Australia will be known as the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020.
“The renaming decision is aligned to the Global Cricket Strategy which will be launched in early 2019, in which the shortest format will not only be used as the vehicle to globalize the game, but to also enhance its profile and status and ensure its status is at par with the pinnacle events of the other two formats,” the ICC said in a media release.
“The renaming of the event is also aimed at cementing the importance this event holds in the international cricket calendar and ensuring parity across all three formats of the game.”
According to South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, renaming the event as “World Cup” will attract more people. He also revealed that the T20 World Cup in Australia will be his last ICC event.
“Personally for me, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2020 will probably be my last ICC event after the World Cup in 2019, so it does give me one last opportunity to vie for a World Cup medal if it doesn’t happen in 2019,” said du Plessis.
The Women’s World T20 started in 2009, a year after the inaugural edition of the men’s version was held. A qualifier phase was introduced in 2013 for the 2014 ICC Women’s World T20. Same happened for men’s World T20 in 2009 as a qualifier round comprising six teams was organized in the previous year.
Bangladesh women’s captain Salma Khatun thinks that the qualification system in place justifies the renaming, as she hailed the decision taken by the global governing body of the game.
She said: “This has always been a global tournament and one that teams look forward to, but the renaming gives it a different feel and I welcome it. T20I cricket is the most popular form of the game with countries all over the world playing the format.
“We also have a fine qualifying system for this tournament, so I think it is a prudent step to term it as a World Cup. Our players look forward to playing in future editions and congratulate the ICC for enhancing the image of the tournament over the years.”
