According to recent poll data seen by ESPNcricinfo, the T20 World Cup is expected to surpass the 50-over World Cup as the “most important” ICC tournament for players worldwide.
Surveys are regularly conducted by the recently renamed World Cricketers Association (WCA), formerly known as FICA, and are distributed to several hundred players worldwide. Particularly among younger players, the percentage of people who believe the T20 World Cup to be the most significant ICC tournament has sharply increased during the last five years.
The 50-over World Cup was deemed the most significant ICC event in 2019 by 85% of respondents, while the T20 World Cup was selected by 15%. Merely 50% of respondents selected the 50-over World Cup in 2024, while 35% selected the T20 World Cup and 15% selected the World Test Championship.
The difference is considerably more pronounced for players under 26. 86% of respondents in 2019 selected the 50-over World Cup, while just 14% selected the T20 World Cup.
Of those surveyed, 49% selected the World Test Championship, 41% the T20 World Cup, and just 49% the 50-over World Cup in 2024.
Beyond ICC competitions, the trend is seen more broadly in the game. When asked which format they thought was more significant five years ago, 82% of respondents said Test cricket, while 11% said T20. Only 48% of participants this year choose Test cricket, while 30% selected T20.
The WCA reports that approximately 330 professional players from 13 different countries made up the sample size for this year’s poll, the bulk of whom are now internationals. The entire results of the survey will be made public later in the year. Although there were more female respondents in 2024, the WCA claims that the statistics still hold true after excluding the comments of male players.
Players from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India are among those who are not covered by the WCA since they are not unionised. However, players from the other major cricketing nations—Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies—received a mixed bag of replies to the study.
The WCA’s CEO, Tom Moffat, met with players in Barbados and New York for the T20 World Cup group rounds. He stated: “This Men’s T20 World Cup has been a great spectacle and our latest global player survey data continues to highlight the trend in player preferences towards T20 cricket in particular.”
The WCA is going to schedule symposiums for players in August and September, and Moffat feels that if the game is going to be serious about fixing its problems, players need to be active in group conversations. “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 stated.
“Scheduling, specifically, is currently handled on a case-by-case basis and influenced by individual agreements and regional preferences. Upon closer examination, it is likely that certain countries have already scheduled bilateral international cricket matches for the majority of the next ten years.”
“Considering the increasing popularity of domestic T20 leagues and the preference of many players and investors towards them, it is illogical.”
Moffat asserts that the strength of bilateral international cricket has been much diminished due to the actions of cricket boards prioritising their own interests and arranging matches alongside franchise leagues.
“As a collective, we must acknowledge the existence of two separate calendars and a divided job market for players within the industry. This implies that international cricket will not showcase the best players competing against each other. Alternatively, we can unite and explore possibilities to ensure the coexistence of both scenarios, by implementing scheduled timeframes and a well-organized international calendar,” he stated.
“Regardless of the circumstances, it is imperative that the players are actively engaged in making decisions regarding the game’s structure and regulations, as these decisions have a direct impact on their professional careers.” The players exhibit determination and commitment towards the achievement of the game’s success, and their choices significantly influence its future trajectory.
The World Cricket Association (WCA) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have just reached a new agreement on the terms of players’ squads for the upcoming four years of ICC events. This agreement specifically addresses matters related to commercial and image rights. A agreement was reached in the days preceding the T20 World Cup following extensive negotiations that lasted for several months. The World Cricket Association (WCA) is of the opinion that the newly established collective model will be advantageous for players hailing from smaller countries.
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