West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) CEO Johnny Grave explained that the schedule for the 2024 T20 World Cup has been arranged to align with Indian prime time. Although the tournament is being held in the West Indies and the USA, the match timings have primarily been set at 8 PM and 6 AM IST to cater to the Indian audience.
Grave acknowledged that the Indian market is crucial for generating revenue for ICC events. He noted that the majority of the revenue for all ICC events comes from India, which is why the scheduling has been adjusted to suit the preferences of Indian viewers. In an interview with The Indian Express, Grave elaborated on the impact of the Indian market on global cricket economics.
“I think everyone accepts that the vast majority of revenues for all ICC events comes from one market. 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. That’s why 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.”
Matches scheduled for 8 PM IST start as early as 10:30 AM local time in the host nations, significantly earlier than usual for the West Indies. Team India’s group matches and potential subsequent games until the semi-final are all set for 8 PM IST.
Winning 2024 T20 World Cup Key for West Indies’ Revenue and Fan Support, Says CEO Johnny Grave
Johnny Grave, CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board, highlighted that strong performances by the West Indies in ICC events could significantly boost the board’s income. He emphasized that winning a third T20 World Cup would greatly uplift home fans and benefit the board financially.
The West Indies have previously claimed the T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016 but failed to qualify for the main event in the 2022 edition. When asked about the importance of the West Indies winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, Grave stated it would be highly significant for both the fans and the board’s revenue.
“If we can lift a record third title then it will have a huge impact, not just on Cricket West Indies but the whole Caribbean. The new ICC economic model also has a performance component that determines how much funding you receive, so if we perform well in ICC events it will be a potential boost to our income in the next cycle of the ICC rights distribution.”
“It is extremely important as it would be a huge boost to our cricket system and the entire region. The reaction of our fans and the Caribbean people on the back of the Test win at the Gabba was unbelievable and we saw how that resonated across the region.”
The West Indies began their campaign strongly with a challenging five-wicket victory over Oman. Their next match is against Uganda in Guyana on Saturday, June 8.
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