The ninth ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 2 and is expected to be an entertaining competition with a record twenty countries vying for the coveted title over the course of 29 days.

Increasing the Competition’s Audience

16 teams competed in the previous T20 World Cup, which was held in Australia in 2022. Eight of the nations went through the qualifiers, and the remaining teams advanced straight to the Super 12 round based on their ICC rankings. In a close match against Pakistan, England prevailed to win their second T20 World Cup.

Round 1 of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup recap (qualifiers)

There were two groups of four teams apiece in the first round. Group A leaders Sri Lanka and the Netherlands both won two of their three games. Ireland and Zimbabwe both advanced from Group B with two wins apiece. Notably, the West Indies, who were champions in 2012 and 2014, lost to Scotland and Ireland unexpectedly in the qualifiers and were unable to advance past that point.

Super 12 Stage

There were two groups of six teams in the Super 12 stage. Ireland and Sri Lanka joined Group 1, together with Australia, England, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, following the qualifiers. Along with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and South Africa, Group 2 was joined by Zimbabwe and the Netherlands.

Despite three teams finishing with seven points, New Zealand and England proceeded to the knockout stage in Group 1 because of their higher net run rates. Australia, the host country, was eliminated. India dominated Group 2, winning four matches to secure their first-place finish. They also defeated Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in an exciting match that was capped off by an outstanding effort from Virat Kohli. Pakistan had three victories going into the semifinals, despite the loss.

First Semi-Final: Pakistan vs. New Zealand

After losing three early wickets, New Zealand scored 152/4 in the first semifinal at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Their innings were anchored by a vital 68-run partnership between captain Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell. Pakistan secured their spot in the final by chasing down the mark in 19.1 overs, driven by a 105-run opening partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.

Second Semifinal: England vs. India

India achieved a goal of 169 at the Adelaide Oval, courtesy of fifty from Virat Kohli and a stunning sixty-three from Hardik Pandya. But England’s opening pair, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, created history by going undefeated and taking ten wickets to win the team and reach the target in just 16 overs.

England vs. Pakistan in the Final

In the Melbourne Cricket Ground final, England’s bowling power was on display. Pakistan was limited to 137/8 by Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, and Sam Curran. England overcame early difficulties in their pursuit and won the title in 19 overs thanks to Ben Stokes’ undefeated 52. This was their second T20 World Cup triumph.

Anticipating the T20 World Cup in 2024

The 2024 T20 World Cup promises to be more accessible and widespread, bringing the excitement of T20 cricket to new audiences and geographical areas as the cricketing community gets ready for it. The expansion of the event highlights cricket’s popularity on a worldwide scale and its ability to bring cricket fans together to celebrate the game’s shortest and most exciting format.