Wales to host team in new T20 competition

14 Feb 2018 | Cricket
From 2020, Wales will host a team in the ECB’s new T20 competition.

Glamorgan will also hold eight ‘white ball’ international matches for a five-year period between 2020-2024 as follows:

2020 – IT20 England v Pakistan
2021 – IT20 England v Sri Lanka and ODI England v Pakistan 
2022 – IT20 England v South Africa
2023 – IT20 and ODI (matches to be confirmed)
2024 – IT20 and ODI (matches to be confirmed)

The decision was made by the ECB Board earlier today following recommendations set out by the Host Venue Panel – an independent advisory group. 

In total, 30 Test Matches, 30 One-Day Internationals, 30 International T20 matches, 10 domestic finals, as well as the eight partnership agreements for the new eight-team T20 competition were awarded over the five-year period. 

“We are absolutely delighted with today’s outcome and hopefully it will be the catalyst for cricket to grow in Wales,” said Glamorgan Chief Executive, Hugh Morris.

“From the beginning of the major match bid process we wanted to position ourselves as the ‘white-ball venue of choice’ and by hosting a team in the new T20 competition and eight ‘white ball’ internationals from 2020 to 2024 we achieved this goal.

“We believe that the new T20 competition can follow the example of the ‘Big Bash’ in Australia by bringing in new audiences and with the world’s best cricketers now expected to come to Cardiff, the game can only continue to flourish. 

In 2017, Cardiff successfully hosted four matches in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, with England’s match against New Zealand and the semi-final between England and South Africa both sell outs, as was the IT20 series decider between England and South Africa, and Morris is certain that trend will continue. 

“The SSE SWALEC is a fantastic venue for international cricket and we have excellent customer experience scores showing we provide fans with a ‘Warm Welsh Welcome.’

“We reached capacity in all three international matches involving England last year and our international fixtures in 2018 continue to sell at record pace, showing there is plenty of appetite for white-ball cricket in Wales. 

“The revenue we will be able to secure from international fixtures will help put the Club in a strong financial position and we can now invest more in our team, our Academy and grass roots cricket in Wales.”