T20 World Cup 2024: Cricket Olympics: International Cricket Council (ICC) is determined to push for cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and to do so, the global body is mulling hosting the T20 World Cup 2024 in the US. If that happens, the US will be only the second associate member nation after the UAE to host a World Cup.
As per a report in Sydney Morning Herald, US and West Indies could be the joint host of the T20 World Cup 2024. While a decision is yet to be made, the ICC is expected to float the motion in its general meeting. That way, before the Los Angeles Olympics 2028, the general perception about cricket will be positive in the US and could help pave way for cricket’s inclusion.
T20 World Cup 2024: After UAE, another associate nation US could host T20 World Cup as ICC pushes for LA Olympics inclusion
“A decision on venues for ICC events in the next cycle was imminent, and that an outward, global focus would mean they were more widely distributed than in the recent past,” SMH reported.
If all goes as per the plans, it would be the first global tournament not hosted by either India or England or Australia since the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The ICC has been for a long time looking to give emerging countries the hosting rights for mega-events.
T20 World Cup 2024: After UAE, another associate nation US could host T20 World Cup as ICC pushes for LA Olympics inclusion
Furthermore, the T20 World Cup 2024 will also be a 20-team affair instead of the current 16-team tournament with 12 making it to the final round. With a first-round and a final round combined, the tournament is expected to have 55 matches. It will be the first significant change that ICC will bring as part of plans for the 2023-31 cycle, in which ICC will host several global tournaments.
T20 World Cup 2024: After UAE, another associate nation US could host T20 World Cup as ICC pushes for LA Olympics inclusion
As the LA 2028 Olympics will be followed by Brisbane 2032 Olympics, the ICC is hopeful that cricket will be a fixture for at least two Olympics. In addition, as India is also aiming to host the 2036 Olympics, cricket may get an extended run. For now, the choice of format is T20 with both men and women competing in the Olympics.
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