Player Survey Shows T20 World Cup Gaining Popularity Over ODI World Cup

Over the last five years, more and more players are starting to see the T20 World Cup as the most important ICC event, according to a new survey shared with ESPNcricinfo.

The World Cricketers Association (WCA), previously known as FICA, regularly surveys hundreds of players worldwide. The latest data shows a significant rise in the number of players, especially younger ones, who now view the T20 World Cup as the top ICC event.

Back in 2019, 85% of players thought the 50-over World Cup was the most important, while only 15% chose the T20 World Cup. Fast forward to 2024, and only 50% still favor the 50-over World Cup, with 35% now preferring the T20 World Cup and 15% opting for the World Test Championship.

For players under 26, the shift is even more noticeable. In 2019, 86% picked the 50-over World Cup, but by 2024, that number dropped to 49%, with 41% choosing the T20 World Cup and 10% the World Test Championship.

This trend isn’t just limited to ICC events. Five years ago, 82% of players said Test cricket was the most important format, compared to 11% for T20. This year, only 48% chose Test cricket, while 30% preferred T20.

The WCA’s survey, which will be fully released later this year, included around 330 professional players from 13 countries, mostly current internationals. Although there were more female respondents in 2024, the trends remained consistent even when looking only at male players.

Players from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan were not part of the survey since they are not unionized. However, the survey did include players from other major cricketing nations like Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies.

Tom Moffat, the WCA’s chief executive, met with players in New York and Barbados during the T20 World Cup group stages. He told ESPNcricinfo, “This Men’s T20 World Cup has been fantastic, and our latest survey shows that players are increasingly favoring T20 cricket.”

The WCA plans to invite players to scheduling meetings in August and September. Moffat believes that players need to be part of the discussions if the sport wants to address its challenges. “The game is evolving quickly, which is exciting but also brings leadership challenges. Traditionally, the sport hasn’t come together well on global issues outside of ICC events,” he said.

“Scheduling is still managed based on individual deals and regional interests. Some countries have already filled their calendars with bilateral international cricket for the next decade. With domestic T20 leagues also taking up calendar space and becoming a preferred choice for many players and investors, this approach doesn’t make much sense.”

Moffat thinks that bilateral international cricket has been weakened by boards prioritizing their own interests and scheduling it alongside franchise leagues.

“As an industry, we either accept that there will be two separate calendars and a divided player market, meaning international cricket won’t always feature the best players, or we work together to create a structured international calendar with scheduling windows,” he said.

“Either way, players should be involved in decisions about the game’s structure and regulations that affect their careers. Players drive the game’s success and their choices are shaping its future.”