Big ambitions for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020
Hang on, what's the T20 World Cup? Isn't it called the World T20?
From the 2020 edition, the premier Twenty20 international tournament for both the men and the women will be known as the T20 World Cup. The decision to rename the tournaments was announced last November. This was aimed at cementing the importance this event holds in the international cricket calendar and ensuring parity across all three formats of the game.
Here's how the teams will be grouped for the @ICC Women's #T20WorldCup 2020 in Australia! What will the key match-ups be? pic.twitter.com/EOt8MC8NP4
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) January 28, 2019
I hear both the men's and women's events will take place in Australia. Does that mean they will run simultaneously?
No, the women's event continues to be a standalone event. The Women’s T20 World Cup, comprising 10 teams, will have 23 matches played from 21 February to 8 March 2020. The Men’s T20 World Cup will involve 16 teams playing 45 matches later in the year from 18 October to 15 November 2020.
For the first time, the women’s and men’s competitions will be played as standalone events in the same host country and in the same year.
Click here for the full list of women's fixtures, which were announced on Tuesday, 29 January.
After a sell-out #WBBL04 final, @EllysePerry is looking forward to the goal of filling the @MCG for the @T20WorldCup final next year!#T20WorldCup fixtures coming your way very, very soon! 👀 pic.twitter.com/MBlYSYp3EW
— ICC (@ICC) January 28, 2019
Exciting! The 2018 edition of the women's tournament was a big deal, wasn't it?
Yes, the ICC Women's World T20 2018 in the Caribbean boasted of several firsts: it was the first standalone women's World T20, the first one to feature DRS, and the first one in which all the matches were broadcast live. As the action now moves to Australia, the aim is to offer more.
Why, what will be so special about this one?
Well, this event is all about taking a big step towards equality – putting the women's game on the same platform as the men's. That means the women's semifinals are at the SCG and both finals get equal billing, taking place at the MCG.
The women’s final is scheduled for International Women’s Day, Sunday, 8 March. With it, the organisers are aiming to set a new world record for the highest ever attendance at a women’s sporting event.
In @Melbourne on March 8, International Women's Day 2020, the @MCG hosts the @ICC Women's #T20WorldCup final!
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) January 28, 2019
The match presents an opportunity to set a world record attendance to a women's sporting fixture, which stands at 90,185. pic.twitter.com/RLKdEawsuo
That's huge!
The MCG is rather huge! Can you imagine what it'd sound like when 100,024 fans – which is the capacity for venue – come together to cheer for the finalists?
We got a taste of what a difference a sold-out crowd can make to the atmosphere of the game, both at the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 final at Lord's and the ICC Women's World T20 2018 final at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua. So bring on the MCG!
Recently, the Women's Big Bash League final in Australia saw a packed stadium with several disappointed fans having to be turned away at the gates. As Ellyse Perry said, “We've got some lofty goals for the T20 World Cup next year ... Given the success we've had, the platform we've built in this competition, I'm really excited about it!”
I'm with Perry! Do you have more details?
Visit the t20worldcup.com website for details on venues, all the latest news, and register for tickets!