The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 schedule has been made, keeping in mind the Indian target. While there was only specualation over the same, an official word has come from the chief of the West Indies cricket board. It is for this reason that some of the matches are starting as early as 10:30 am (Local time) in the Caribbean islands and the USA so that they can be braodcast during the prime time slot in India.
India's first two matches against Ireland and Pakistan respectively, might be coming at 08:00 pm (IST) but in New York the matches are going to begin at 10:30 am (local time), not usually the time T20 matches are generally played.
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It Is Important We Find A Balance Between Starting Matches At Prime Time In India And For Home Fans
"I think everyone accepts that the vast majority of revenues for all ICC events comes from one market," Johnny Grave, the West Indes Cricket Board CEO, told Indian Express.
"Therefore it is really important that we find a balance between starting matches at prime time in India and for home fans. We have half the matches early for Star Sports and then we have gone as late as possible so they will start early in the morning in India, so they should still get a decent viewership."
"We as hosts can focus on the local fans attending the evening games and the 10:30 morning games will allow us to get school kids to watch some World Cup cricket for free," he added.
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In addition, Graves said that the Cricket Board of West Indies has decided that no international cricket will be played at a time when major T20 franchise tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is played. This is because such a move will give the players the freedom to be take part in T20 leagues.
"Very early on we gave players a guaranteed window every year in their contracts that they could play both the IPL and CPL and assured them we would not play any international cricket in those windows," Gave stated.