T20 World Cup 2024: Everything You Know About The 'New' World Cup Format

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Being hosted at a new place in a new format, T20 World Cup 2024 is anticipated to be an exciting and awaited tournament in the cricket world. A series of crisp moments and historic scenes are expected to be witnessed in the next T20 World Cup.

Being the hosts of the T20 World Cup 2024, the United States of America along with the West Indies have automatically qualified for the T20 World Cup. 

The 20-team tournament in 2024 will be played in two phases before the 'knockout' games begin. This format will be different from the First Round and Super 12 stages played in the T20 World Cup 2022. 

The teams will be divided into four groups with 5 teams each. The top two teams from all four groups will qualify for the Super Eight stage, where the 8 teams will again be divided into two groups of 4 teams each. The top two teams from both groups will go on to play in the semi-final of the tournament. 

Prior to that, it has to be decided which 20 teams will make it to the tournament. Apart from USA and West Indies automatically qualifying as the hosts, the performances at the T20 World Cup 2022 and ICC T20I rankings cut-off on November 14 will determine the next 10 teams. 

In the 2022 edition, the top eight teams i.e. top four in each of the two groups in Super 12 gained entry to the 2024 T20 World Cup. These eight teams are – New Zealand, England, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, South Africa and the Netherlands. Afghanistan and Bangladesh were the next-best teams in the ICC T20I rankings and secured their spots in the World Cup. 

The final eight spots in the 2024 edition of the World Cup will be decided in regional qualifiers. Africa, Asia and Europe will have two qualification spots while the Americas and East-Asia Pacific regions will take up one spot each.