The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to allot a major global event to the United States of America (USA). As per reports of Cricbuzz, USA Cricket, the national cricket body in America, is likely to be allotted an ICC event as early as 2024, kick-starting the next global cycle of world events.
The ICC has previously announced that there will be a Twenty20 World Cup in 2024 for which, it is learned, that there is a joint bid from USA Cricket and Cricket West Indies (CWI). There is every chance that the 20-team and 55-match tournament will be awarded to the US and the Caribbean boards.
ICC has always been trying to enter the American markets and a successful event hosting may go a long way for ICC’s Olympic ambitions which may become reality at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Given the Olympic hopes, allotting the 2024 championship may make sense.
Cricbuzz also reported that potential broadcasters of the world have hinted by the ICC that the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup could go to the US and West Indies.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may get the last event of the cycle, the 2031 50-over World Cup, as it would be hosting the 2023 edition. The BCCI is likely to get one more ICC event in the cycle if not two.
The decision is expected over the next one week, when a series of in-person meetings are scheduled in ICC headquarters in Dubai, starting with the Chief Executive Committee (CEC) meet on Thursday (November 11) and culminating with the Board meeting on November 16.
The ICC Board had approved the process for determining the hosts for all Men's, Women's, and U19 events in the next cycle. ICC had stated in June that the hosts for the Men's events will be decided in September following a selection process.
ICC sources have said that the competitive hosting process has started under a sub-committee headed by the chief of New Zealand cricket, Martin Snedden. The committee also includes BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and CWI chief Ricky Skerritt and Ehsan Mani.
There are eight events - one in every year - in the next cycle. Apart from India, US-West Indies, England, Australia, and New Zealand will be big contenders.
Also, a significant point of note will be whether the ICC will consider Pakistan, which is believed to have made a major pitch to host the global events, individually as well as jointly with other boards.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
