ICC Board decides on future of WT20 events

The ICC Board has decided that the ICC World Twenty20 should consist of a 16-team format for the men's event from 2012, with a women's event continuing to run alongside it.

A decision to introduce T2O international rankings table as soon as justifiable was also taken.

The Board agreed that any discussion of performance-related ranking and the issue of qualification for ICC global events, including finding opportunities for Associate Members to play ODI cricket, should be considered by the ICC Governance Committee and a recommendation brought back to the Board.

The decisions came as part of a wide-ranging review of the Future Tours Programme.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Restructuring international cricket is a significant strategic challenge and one that must be dealt with. We have now agreed in principle to exciting and far-reaching proposals to tackle this most important issue.

"Achieving balance and unanimous agreement is not easy but we have responded well to a strategic priority to restructure international cricket. The proposals, especially introducing more meaningful context, means we now have the potential to follow international cricket that is even more exciting."