World T20: Women’s event to be held prior to men’s in Australia edition
The International Cricket Council has approved Cricket Australia’s bid to host the women’s tournament independent of the men’s when they host the next edition of the T20 World Cup in 2020. The sixth edition of the championship that was held in India in March-April saw both held simultaneously.
Accordingly in 2020, the women will play in February-March and the men in October-November after CA put in the bid to separate the tournaments in the wake of the popularity of the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League.
"Women's cricket is undoubtedly gaining in popularity around the globe and we felt that by separating the two events we could accelerate that growth," CA chairman David Peever said in a statement.
"Having the ICC Women's World Twenty20 as a stand-alone event means we can hold it in stadiums that we can fill, put on TV at prime-time and ensure it has the space to be promoted away from the shadow of the men's game.
"WBBL has taught us that there is an audience for women's cricket both live and on prime-time television and this decision means we have the opportunity to hold the biggest women's sporting event ever held in Australia," he added.