As the ICC T20 World Cup tournament begins, it brings to mind an interesting history. The tournament started in 2007 in South Africa as ‘World T20’ and India won the first title. However, in 2020, the names of both men's and women's T20 tournaments were changed to ‘T20 World Cup’.
Why and for what purpose this change was made, many questions were raised at that time. Now, in the context of the new era, the discussion has resurfaced, and the ICC has clarified that this name will strengthen the profile of the competition on the global stage and increase the spread of T20 cricket. The ICC's administrative board stated that changing the name will accelerate the global cricket strategy.
The main objective was to grant international status to T20 matches for member teams and open regional qualification pathways to more than 100 member countries. As a result, qualification rounds have started in recent years, and the number of teams has reached 20. In the second consecutive season, 20 teams will play, and this number may increase in the future.
The name of One Day cricket is already 'One Day World Cup', while the Test series has been named 'World Test Championship'. With T20 now being recognized as the World Cup, its status has increased globally. This change has proven to give T20 cricket the prestige of the World Cup. After the first edition in 2007, the change from 'World T20' to 'T20 World Cup' makes the tournament more comprehensive. This decision by the ICC is important for global growth, and exciting matches are expected in the new edition. For cricket lovers, this tournament has now become richer and more inclusive.