ICC T20 World Cup 2024 schedule finalised

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised the dates for the next T20 World Cup, according to reports that surfaced Friday night.

Next year's T20 World Cup will be held from June 4 to 30 in West Indies and America, ESPNcricinfo reported, adding that the cricketing body had already shortlisted ten venues in the US and the West Indies.

The cricket website further reported that next year's World Cup matches will take place in Florida, Dallas, New York and Morrisville in America; however, Morrisville, Dallas and New York do not have international cricket venue status yet, which is mandatory as per ICC rules.

The ICC will decide on the venues in consultation with the US and West Indies cricket boards.

Moreover, 20 teams will participate in the 2024 World Cup, which will be played in a format different from being used now.

In the first round, the teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each, and the top two teams from each group will be split into two groups for the Super 8 round.

ESPNcricinfo added that the top two teams from both the Super 8 groups will qualify for the semi-finals.

"The 2024 T20 World Cup is the first of the eight men's global events in the ICC's next commercial cycle from 2024-31, which was finalised in 2021," the website added.

It further wrote that the decision to appoint the USA as a co-host was "part of a strategic move by the ICC".

There were two objectives behind this move.

"One, the North American market was identified as a strong market for growth of the game. And two, the ICC's ambition to have cricket feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (LA28)."