The T20 World Cup has begun grandly, with some exciting batting from USA batters against Canada, to PNG giving a scare to another co-host West Indies, to finally see a super over in recent times. It's been enthralling the opening few days of the World Cup.
However, there are certain new things as well that have a little under the radar of the fans, some new rules, some first-timers, and much more. Without wasting much time let's begin:-
For the very first time in the history of the T20 World Cup more than one nation has hosted the tournament in the previous 9 editions, only one nation hosted the month-long tournament. South Africa hosted the inaugural edition in 2007, and in 2009 the tournament was hosted by England, India hosted the tournament twice in 2016 and 2021 though the tournament was held in UAE due to the Covid-19 lockdown in India. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Australia have hosted the tournament once each in 2012, 2014, and 2022 respectively. West Indies is hosting the tournament for the second time since 2010, while The USA is hosting it for the first time.
For the very first time in T20 World Cup history, 20 teams are fighting for that coveted trophy. Earlier the participating teams used to be 10-12, It was then decided that the teams need to be increased to promote the sport in non Cricketing nations.
This is another concept that is quite new in terms of T20 Cricket, the surfaces in the USA are not the actual pitches of the US, but the drop-in pitches from Australia. A drop-in pitch is a pitch that is prepared away from the stadium and then brought into the stadium at the beginning of the season with the help of giant cranes. It was used in a game between Australia and Bangladesh in 2003.
Another concept introduced in T20 Circuit for the first time, as we all have heard that the stadium in Nassau County Academy is a temporary venue made with different materials like steel and aluminum, unlike concrete which is used in most of the grounds. As Heard the stadium will be dismantled once the World Cup gets over.
The stop clock rule was introduced for the timely conclusion of the matches, This rule stated that The new rule requires the fielding team to start the next over within 60 seconds of finishing one over. This stop clock will be started by the third umpire and will be displayed on the giant screen. T20 World Cup 2024 becomes the first Cricket Global tournament where this rule has come into effect.