The Women’s T20 World Cup, initially set to take place in Bangladesh, has been relocated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to political and social unrest. The tournament will run from October 3rd to October 20th, 2024.
On September 23rd, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the official event song, “Whatever It Takes.” This energetic anthem is a collaboration between the all-girl pop group W.i.S.H., music director Mikey McCleary, composer Parth Parekh, and was produced by Bay Music House. The single is now available for download and streaming worldwide.
“The ICC is committed to make the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 the best possible stage for world class players to shine. Women’s cricket is firmly established on the global stage, and our vision is to further enhance its recognition with the launch of the official event song. This soundtrack is not only a prelude of the extraordinary talent that will be displayed on the field of play, but also the vehicle to inspiring a new generation of heroes to women’s cricket’s ever-growing, worldwide fanbase,” said Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager of Marketing and Communications.
The song embraces a global pop sound, blending excitement and energy to appeal to international audiences and connect with younger fans. W.i.S.H., an all-girl pop sensation, brings youthful energy to the track, celebrating women in sport through McCleary’s dynamic composition.
“We are incredibly proud to share that as an all-girl group, we’ve created the official event song for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup! Cricket is a powerful force that unites people across our country and around the world, and it’s an honour to contribute to such a special occasion. As huge fans of Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana, we can’t wait for them to do the hook step from the music video and of course the other players from all the participating nations,” said W.i.S.H.
Speaking about the song, music director Mikey McCleary shared, “I feel we have captured the vibe and the energy of a T20 cricket world cup in this song and can’t wait for cricket fans all over the world to listen to it.”
After the success of the 2023 edition in South Africa, which saw a 44% increase in viewing hours compared to 2020, the 2024 event is expected to take the sport to new heights, engaging an even larger global audience.
The official music video was released alongside the song, featuring highlights from women’s cricket and choreography that sets the tone for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as a must-watch event.
The competition kicks off on October 3rd at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with Bangladesh facing Scotland. All 10 teams will do “Whatever It Takes” to lift the trophy at the final in Dubai on October 20th.
(Quotes sourced from ICC media release)