The T20 circuit will offer its grandest tournament yet, when the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup takes place from 1 to 29 June. The event will be hosted for the first time by the US, in conjunction with a traditional cricket nation, the West Indies.
Check out our preview of the tournament below:
Teams
A record 20 teams will participate in this year’s tournament- by far the largest International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament to date. A host of teams have been included that are not renowned as traditional cricket-playing nations, which has resulted in this swelled number. These teams include Canada, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.
Format
The 20 teams competing have been divided into 4 groups of 5 teams each. After the group stage, the top 2 teams in each group will advance to the Super 8 stage, where there will be 2 groups of 4 teams each. This will be played as a single round-robin, with the top 2 teams from each Super 8 group advancing to the knockout stage.
Here are the groups, fixtures and venues (local US and Caribbean times):
Group A
- Pakistan
- India
- Canada
- Ireland
- United States
Preview:
Former champions Pakistan, India and Ireland should dominate this group. While India and Pakistan are favourites to go through to the Super 8, they will have to be wary of Ireland, who are always a dangerous team, particularly in the T20 format. As co-hosts, the USA will be eager to put on a good performance, while Canada will be equally determined after a long gap between participation in ICC tournaments.
Fixtures:
1 June 2024, 19:30: United States v Canada, Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas
5 June 2024, 10:30: Ireland v India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
6 June 2024, 10:30: United States v Pakistan, Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas
7 June 2024, 10:30: Ireland v Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow New York
9 June 2024, 10:30: Pakistan v India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
11 June 2024, 10:30: Pakistan v Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
12 June 2024, 10:30: United States v India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
14 June 2024, 10:30: United States v Ireland, Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
15 June 2024, 10:30: Canada v India, Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
16 June 2024, 10:30: Pakistan v Ireland, Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
Group B
- England
- Australia
- Namibia
- Scotland
- Oman
Preview:
Defending champions England and former champions Australia are likely to ease through to the Super 8 round. However, they will still have to be at their best against Namibia, Scotland and Oman, who have all improved vastly, particularly in the T20 format.
Fixtures:
2 June 2024, 20:30: Oman v Namibia, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
4 June 2024, 10:30: England v Scotland, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
5 June 2024, 20:30: Oman v Australia, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
6 June 2024, 15:00: Namibia v Scotland, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
8 June 2024, 13:00: Australia v England, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
9 June 2024, 13:00: Oman v Scotland, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
11 June 2024, 20:30: Namibia v Australia, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
13 June 2024, 15:00: Oman v England, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
15 June 2024, 13:00: Namibia v England, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
15 June 2024, 20:30: Scotland v Australia, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Group C
- New Zealand
- West Indies
- Afghanistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Uganda
Preview:
This should be a tight pool, with New Zealand, West Indies and Afghanistan all vying for the top 2 spots in the Group. Afghanistan had a good 2023 World Cup and will be hoping to do even better in the T20 World Cup, while the West Indies will have a lot to prove after missing out on qualification for the 2023 World Cup. As always, New Zealand will be dogged and hard to beat, while Papua New Guinea and Uganda will be excited to put on a good showing in their first appearance at a major ICC tournament.
Fixtures:
2 June 2024, 10:30: West Indies v Papua New Guinea, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
3 June 2024, 20:30: Afghanistan v Uganda, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
5 June 2024, 19:30: Uganda v Papua New Guinea, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
7 June 2024, 19:30: Afghanistan v New Zealand, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
8 June 2024, 20:30: West Indies v Uganda, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
12 June 2024, 20:30: West Indies v New Zealand, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
13 June 2024, 20:30: Afghanistan v Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
14 June 2024, 20:30: Uganda v New Zealand, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
17 June 2024, 10:30: Papua New Guinea v New Zealand, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
17 June 2024, 20:30: West Indies v Afghanistan, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Group D
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Nepal
- Netherlands
Preview:
Group D is likely to the toughest group, with South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Netherlands all vying for the 2 spots in the Super 8. Nepal won’t be pushovers either, as it has improved immeasurably thanks to years of experience in ICC qualifying tournaments. The Proteas will have their work cut out for them navigating this competitive group.
Fixtures:
3 June 2024, 10:30: Sri Lanka v South Africa, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
4 June 2024, 10:30: Nepal v Netherlands, Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas
7 June 2024, 19:30: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas
8 June 2024, 10:30: Netherlands v South Africa, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
10 June 2024, 10:30: South Africa v Bangladesh, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, East Meadow, New York
11 June 2024, 19:30: Nepal v Sri Lanka, Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
13 June 2024, 10:30: Netherlands v Bangladesh, Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent
14 June 2024, 19:30: Nepal v South Africa, Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent
16 June 2024, 19:30: Nepal v Bangladesh, Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent
16 June 2024, 20:30: Netherlands v Sri Lanka, Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Super 8s
Group 1
A1 (1st placed)
B2 (2nd placed)
C1 (1st placed)
D2 (2nd placed)
Fixtures:
20 June 2024, 10:30: C1 v A1, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
20 June 2024, 20:30: B2 v D2, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
22 June 2024, 10:30: A1 v D2, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
22 June 2024, 20:30: C1 v B2, Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent
24 June 2024, 10:30: B2 v A1, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
24 June 2024, 20:30: C1 v D2, Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent
Group 2
A2 (2nd placed)
B1 (1st placed)
C2 (2nd placed)
D1 (1st placed)
Fixtures:
19 June 2024, 10:30: A2v D1, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
19 June 2024, 20:30: B1v C2, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
21 June 2024, 10:30: B1 v D1, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
21 June 2024, 20:30: A2 v C2, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
23 June 2024, 10:30: A2 v B1, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
23 June 2024, 20:30: C2 v D1, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Knockout Stage
Semi-finals
26 June 2024, 20:30: TBD v TBD, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
27 June 2024, 10:30: TBD v TBD, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
Final
29 June 2024, 10:30: TBD v TBD, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Conclusion
By its very nature, T20 cricket is a format that trends towards upsets more than ODIS or tests, as the short, sharp and chaotic nature of the game translates into results often hinging on 1 or 2 impactful players or lucky breaks. This is evidenced by previous unexpected results in T20 World Cups, such as when South Africa lost to the Netherlands in 2022 and Australia lost to Zimbabwe in the inaugural 2007 tournament.
However, the “usual suspects” (i.e., the established test-playing nations) are still likely to be the dominant force and qualify for the Super 8.
Get Your Game On
No matter who rises to the top in the tournament, make sure you don’t miss out on the action and visit www.gbets.co.za to place your bets!