The ICC’s recent men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies has faced criticism from its broadcast partner, Disney-Star, raising concerns about the event’s value and the overall return on investment.
Disney-Star has expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling of matches, particularly those that aired during unfavorable hours in the subcontinent, impacting viewership. The broadcaster also raised concerns about the drop-in pitches used at the Nassau County stadium in New York, which produced bowling-friendly surfaces and resulted in low scores.
The first two pitches were deemed “unsatisfactory” by the ICC, while the pitch for the marquee India-Pakistan match was rated “satisfactory” despite Pakistan’s failure to chase down a modest target. The semi-final pitch in Trinidad, where Afghanistan was dismissed for a mere 56, was also rated “unsatisfactory.”
Disney-Star’s dissatisfaction is significant given its long-term partnership with the ICC, holding the rights to every ICC event since 2011. The broadcaster’s concerns have implications for ICC members, who rely heavily on revenue from the rights deal.
Discussions within the ICC to swap the USA-West Indies event with India or England in future years to provide more preparation time for venues were considered but did not progress.
In addition to the pitch issues, the venue in Florida also faced criticism due to inadequate drainage and insufficient covers, leading to match abandonments.
The ICC is currently conducting an audit of the event’s handling after it emerged that the original budget for the US leg exceeded by up to USD 20 million. The dissatisfaction with the event has prompted suggestions to convert the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy to T20Is, although no developments have been made on this proposal.
