Bridgetown, Barbados, a survey of players has revealed that the T20 World Cup is closing the gap in the race to become the "top" ICC event for players around the world, marking a shift from the dominance of the ODI World Cup.
According to a survey by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), formerly FICA, an overwhelming 85 per cent of players considered the 50-over World Cup the most important in 2019, compared to 15 per cent. cent of the T20 World Cup.
However, in 2024, those figures have changed, with 50 per cent of players considering the ODI masterpiece the most important and 35 per cent favoring its T20 equivalent.
The ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and the West Indies, will conclude with the title clash between India and South Africa in Barbados on Saturday.
According to the survey conducted by the renowned body, for players under the age of 26, the inclination towards the T20 World Cup has increased significantly, with 41 per cent preferring it over the 50-over World Cup (49 per cent in 2024).
Overall, there has been a sharp rise in the popularity of the T20 format. Compared to 2019, when 82 per cent of players chose Test cricket as the top format, it is now just 48 per cent.
As many as 30 per cent of the players chose T20 as the most important format.
Players from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are among those not represented by the WCA because they are not unionized.
Responses were sought from players from other major cricket nations including Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies.
According to the WCA, the sample size for this year's survey was around 330 professional players from 13 different countries, most of them current internationals.
In 2024 there will be a higher proportion of women surveyed.
In the current edition of the T20 World Cup, the much-awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan garnered a staggering 256 million hours of viewing in India alone.
According to a survey by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), formerly FICA, an overwhelming 85 per cent of players considered the 50-over World Cup the most important in 2019, compared to 15 per cent. cent of the T20 World Cup.
However, in 2024, those figures have changed, with 50 per cent of players considering the ODI masterpiece the most important and 35 per cent favoring its T20 equivalent.
The ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and the West Indies, will conclude with the title clash between India and South Africa in Barbados on Saturday.
According to the survey conducted by the renowned body, for players under the age of 26, the inclination towards the T20 World Cup has increased significantly, with 41 per cent preferring it over the 50-over World Cup (49 per cent in 2024).
Overall, there has been a sharp rise in the popularity of the T20 format. Compared to 2019, when 82 per cent of players chose Test cricket as the top format, it is now just 48 per cent.
As many as 30 per cent of the players chose T20 as the most important format.
Players from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are among those not represented by the WCA because they are not unionized.
Responses were sought from players from other major cricket nations including Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies.
According to the WCA, the sample size for this year's survey was around 330 professional players from 13 different countries, most of them current internationals.
In 2024 there will be a higher proportion of women surveyed.
In the current edition of the T20 World Cup, the much-awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan garnered a staggering 256 million hours of viewing in India alone.
