ICC trophy T20 World Cup 2024. (Source – Getty Images)
A recent player survey by the World Cricketers Association (WCA), formerly named FICA, has revealed a significant shift in the perceived importance of ICC events. The T20 World Cup is closing the gap with the ODI World Cup as the “most important” event among players worldwide, marking a notable change from previous years.
Back in 2019, a staggering 85 percent of players considered the 50-over World Cup the most important, with only 15 percent favoring the T20 World Cup. Fast forward to 2024, and those numbers have changed dramatically. Now, 50 percent of players still regard the ODI World Cup as the top event, but 35 percent now favour the T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, will conclude with a highly anticipated final between India and South Africa in Barbados on Saturday.
The survey also highlighted a generational shift in preferences. For players under 26, the inclination towards the T20 World Cup has risen significantly, with 41 percent preferring it over the 50-over World Cup, which stands at 49 percent.
Overall, the popularity of the T20 format has surged. In 2019, 82 percent of players viewed Test cricket as the most important format, but that number has dropped to 48 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, 30 percent of players now consider T20 as the most important format.
Also Read: Who will win today’s T20 World Cup match between SA vs IND?
The survey, conducted by the re-branded WCA, included responses from around 330 professional players from 13 different countries, with most being current internationals. Notably, players from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan were not represented as they were not unionized.
In this edition of the T20 World Cup, the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan garnered a staggering 256 million viewing hours in India alone, underscoring the format’s growing popularity and importance.
As we all think, the T20 World Cup is going to continue gaining traction among both players and fans, shaping the future of international cricket.
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