The International Cricket Council announced on Thursday (April 26) that all its 104 member nations - both men and women's team - will be granted T20I status. At present, there are 18 members with T20I status - 12 full members plus Scotland, Netherlands, Hong Kong, UAE, Oman, and Nepal.
ICC CEO David Richardson announced this new development in a press conference in Kolkata and also informed that a global ranking system will be put in place for the format.
Keeping in mind the recent controversies in the Australia- South Africa Test series; the ICC also stated that they will clamp down heavily on infringements like ball tampering and sledging.
"Stricter and heavier transactions for ball tampering and using abusive language, sledging, dissent. We want penalties in place. Fines are not proving to be the answer. The cricket committee will come back with plans," Richardson said.
The ICC also discussed T20 leagues and their impact on international calendars. Richardson said: "There are occasions where they [T20 leagues] are competing with international bilateral series. We need to look at our regulations to see how we can allow that to happen."
"About ICC World Test Championship, all the fixtures making up the league have been finalized and it will be out soon," said Richardson.
Richardson also said that in all likelihood the 2021 Champions Trophy will be a World T20. The 2021 Champions trophy is supposed to be hosted in India, with Australia hosting 2020 WT20.
Richardson also shed light on the India and Pakistan not being in FTP.
"There is a common desire that it will be great if India and Pakistan can play each other, specifically in bilateral series. The issue is quite complicated I am afraid, it is going to take a lot more than just two boards agreeing," Richardson said.
