In the past five decades, there has been a sharp increase in the percentage of people who consider the T20 World Cup to be the most significant ICC function
The T20 World Cup is on course to beat the 50- over World Cup as the "most crucial" ICC occasion to gamers around the world, according to new review data seen by ESPNcricinfo.
The recently- rebranded World Cricketers Association (WCA ), previously FICA, conducts regular surveys which are circulated to many hundred people around the world. The proportion of people who believe the T20 World Cup to be the most significant ICC occasion, especially among young people, has dramatically increased over the past five years.
In 2019, 85 % of responders ranked the 50- over World Cup as the most significant ICC event, compared to 15 % who chose the T20 World Cup. In 2024, just 50 % chose the 50- over World Cup, compared to 35 % who said the T20 World Cup and a more 15 % who picked the World Test Championship.
For people under 26, the shift is even more striking. In 2019, 86 % picked the 50- over World Cup compared to 14 % who chose the T20 World Cup. In 2024, just 49 % said the 50- over World Cup, while 41 % picked the T20 World Cup and 10 % chose the World Test Championship.
The pattern is reflected more frequently across the match, beyond ICC activities. Five years ago, only 11 % of survey respondents chose T20 over Test cricket as their preferred format, while 82 % chose that format. This time, only 48 % of people chose Test cricket compared to 30 % who said T20.
The WCA say that the sample size for this year's survey- which will be released in full after in the year- was around 330 skilled players from 13 various countries, the majority of whom are present internationals. A higher proportion of female responders in 2024 skews the information, but the WCA claims that this is true when male players are being isolated.
India, Pakistan and Afghanistan people are among those who are not represented by the WCA since they are not unionised. But the study actions are spread across people from india's another major countries, which include Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies.
Tom Moffat, WCA's chief executive, was in New York and Barbados during the class phases of the T20 World Cup to meet with people. He told ESPNcricinfo:" This People's T20 World Cup has been a wonderful sight and our latest international player survey data continues to show the trend in player preferences towards T20 cricket in special".
Players are invited to symposiums in August and September by the WCA, but Moffat thinks they must be a part of collective discussions if the game is going to solve its problems. " The rapid evolution in the game is exciting but also presents challenges of leadership in a sport that has traditionally not come together coherently on many global issues outside of ICC events", he said.
" Scheduling in particular is still managed based on inpidual deals and regional interests and if you looked closely enough, you would probably find some countries have already filled up their calendars with bilateral international cricket for the best part of the next decade.
That makes no sense given that domestic T20 leagues are filling up the calendar and becoming more popular with many players and those who invest in the game.
Moffat believes that boards acting selfishly and scheduling it alongside franchise leagues have significantly weakened bilateral international cricket.
We as an industry can choose to either accept that international cricket wo n't be played best or worst, as a result of our working together to create a co-existing environment with scheduling options and a properly organized international calendar.
" Either way, the players should be collectively involved in decisions on game structure and regulations that impact their careers. The players drive and are invested in the game's success, and their decisions are shaping its future."
The WCA and the ICC recently renegotiated players ' squad terms for the next four years of ICC events, which cover commercial and image rights. A deal was struck in the days leading up the T20 World Cup after many months of negotiations and the WCA believe the new collective model will benefit players from smaller nations.
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