WOMEN'S CRICKET

Women's WT20 to be held six months before men's in 2020

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

"Women's cricket is undoubtedly gaining in popularity around the globe and we felt that by separating the two events we could accelerate that growth." © Cricbuzz

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a bid by Cricket Australia to separate the men's and women's tournaments at the 2020 World Twenty20 to be held in Australia.

The World Twenty20 held earlier this year in India saw the men's and women's tournaments run simultaneously with double-headers but the ICC have agreed to CA's request to stage the 2020 Women's WT20 six months ahead of the corresponding men's edition.

An ICC statement said the decision to make the WWT20 a separate event represented "a big step forward for the women's game in a market where there is a clear appetite for women's cricket given the success of the WBBL".

David Peever, the chairman of both CA and the ICC's governance committee, said it was an important development for women's cricket. "Women's cricket is undoubtedly gaining in popularity around the globe and we felt that by separating the two events we could accelerate that growth," he said in a statement. "Having the ICC Women's World Twenty20 as a stand-alone event means we can hold it in stadiums that we can fill, put on TV at prime-time and ensure it has the space to be promoted away from the shadow of the men's game.

"WBBL has taught us that there is an audience for women's cricket both live and on prime-time television and this decision means we have the opportunity to hold the biggest women's sporting event ever held in Australia," he added.

James Sutherland, CA's chief executive, said the tournament would feature around a hundred of the world's best female cricketers. "As a pinnacle event in the global cricket calendar, we are confident that it will be the biggest women's sporting event ever seen in Australia," he said. "It will attract huge levels of interest and, as anticipation builds, we will integrate our event planning so as to further fuel our ambitious growth aspirations for the game.

"In particular, our goals to materially increase the number of girls and women playing cricket will remain front of mind," he added.

© Cricbuzz