ICC grants T20 International status to all 104 member countries
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced that all its 104 member nations - both men and women's team - will be granted T20I status.
The news was confirmed by ICC CEO David Richardson in a press conference in Kolkata.
He also said that a global ranking system will be launched for the format.
At present, there are 18 members with T20I status - 12 full members plus Scotland, Netherlands, Hong Kong, UAE, Oman and Nepal.
"All Women's team matches will be awarded T20 International status on July 1st 2018. All the men's team matches will be given T20 International status on January 1st 2019," Richardson said.
ICC said the move is a part of the wider strategic aim of using the T20 format to globalise the game.
It said that the new minimum standards will be introduced making it as easy as possible for members to play international cricket in a sustainable and affordable way.
Earlier this year, there were reports doing the rounds that from the year 2020, there won’t be any international cricket played during the IPL – paving the way for a separate window for the T20 league.
All ICC member nations are to receive T20I status and the 2021 Champions Trophy is to be replaced with a World T20 in the approved 2019-23 Future Tours Programme.
— ICC (@ICC) April 26, 2018
Details ➡️ https://t.co/Z9sOtqEVVA pic.twitter.com/DUbpqtQ0ds
Talking about the cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, Richardson said that it will take more than both the boards to agree.
“There is a common desire that it will be great if India and Pakistan can play each other, specifically in bilateral series. The issue is quite complicated I am afraid, it is going to take a lot more than just two boards agreeing,” he added.