The ongoing T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and USA, has seen matches scheduled at various times throughout the day. Johnny Grave, CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has acknowledged that the schedule prioritizes Indian prime time viewing due to the significant revenue generated from the Indian market.
Prime Time for India and West Indies Fans
Grave explained, in an interview with The Indian Express, the logistical challenges of scheduling matches across different time zones during the T20 World Cup.
He emphasized the importance of striking a balance between catering to the large Indian viewership and ensuring some matches are played at a reasonable time for West Indies fans. This has resulted in a mix of early morning and evening matches, aiming to capture audiences in both regions.
What did Johnny Grave said?
“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, 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.”
Benefits of hosting ft Cricket West Indies
While the scheduling prioritizes Indian viewership, Grave highlighted the numerous benefits of hosting major ICC events for the Cricket West Indies and other associate nations. These benefits include:
- Increased Revenue Sharing: The current ICC event cycle ensures revenue generated from hosting rights is distributed amongst more cricket boards compared to previous cycles, which primarily benefitted the “big three” – India, England, and Australia.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Hosting the World Cup has spurred significant government investment in national stadiums, leading to much-needed facility upgrades across the West Indies.
- Boost for West Indies Cricket: A strong performance by the West Indies team could reignite fan passion and positively impact their finances through the ICC’s performance-based funding model.
More on T20 WC:
Stronger Player Relations:
Grave also addressed past tensions between the WICB and players. He emphasized efforts to improve communication and scheduling to find a better balance for players who participate in lucrative franchise tournaments like the IPL and CPL. The WICB now provides a guaranteed window in player contracts for these tournaments and avoids scheduling international cricket during those times.
This approach respects player choice and avoids forcing them to choose between international and franchise cricket. However, players who choose to prioritize franchise cricket understand that they may lose their place in the West Indies team if replacements perform well.
Overall, the T20 World Cup schedule reflects the importance of the Indian market while highlighting the wider benefits hosting major tournaments brings to the West Indies and other cricketing nations.
