The recently concluded 9th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, hosted by Bangladesh and played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was unique in many ways. Not only did we witness a new champion, but also there were multiple records shattered in terms of landmark viewership throughout the course of the tournament.
The hosts of the previous edition, South Africa scripted history the last time around when the Sune Luus-led side made a maiden appearance in an ICC World Cup final, men’s/women’s. This time around, they stunned the tournament favorites and the defending champions, Australia, out of the tournament courtesy of a convincing 8-wicket win in the first semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to progress to their 2nd consecutive appearance in the final.
On the other hand, New Zealand led by skipper Sophie Devine defeated West Indies led by skipper Hayley Matthews by 8 runs in the 2nd semi-final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to progress to their 3rd appearance in the final. Both sides battled it out for their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The White Ferns eventually came out on top to claim their maiden T20 World Cup glory courtesy of a convincing 32-run victory in the title clash. A fairy-tale end to Sophie Devine’s stint as a skipper in the T20I format for the White Ferns.
RECORD CROWD! 👏
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 marked a milestone for women’s cricket, attracting 91,030 fans throughout the tournament—a notable 30% increase from the previous edition. 😍#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GjQcZwiAG1
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 25, 2024
Apart from the action on the field, there were also multiple viewership records broken as there were relatively larger crowds attracted throughout the course of the tournament. The iconic clash between the arch-rivals India and Pakistan on 6th October 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, witnessed the highest-ever crowd attendance (15,935) in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup group encounter.
“Women’s cricket is reaching new heights, and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE is a shining example of the sport’s expanding impact. The impressive turnout demonstrates the growing global support for women’s cricket and the potential for hosting elite women’s sport in this region,” said ICC CEO, Geoff Allardice, pleased on witnessing the global growth and the rising impact of the women’s game.
The semi-final stages of the tournament witnessed an impressive 21% rise (69, 573), as compared to the previous edition. Whereas the grand finale between New Zealand and South Africa at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 20th October 2024, witnessed a remarkable rise as the crowd attendance, sky-rocketed to a remarkable 68% increase (21,457) as compared to the final of the 8th edition in 2023, at Newlands, Capetown.
(Quotes sourced from ICC Press Release)
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