Most Famous Cricket Tournaments in The World 2024: Cricket is a very popular sport enjoyed by many people around the world. It has seen the rise of numerous talented players who have competed on international stages. Different cricket tournaments provide opportunities for both experienced and amateur players to showcase their skills. These tournaments also attract fans of all ages from around the globe, which opens up advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
These tournaments not only motivate teams and players but also serve as a platform for setting new records and breaking old ones. They create a sense of excitement and anticipation for fans as they witness outstanding performances and remarkable achievements.
Most Famous Cricket Tournaments in The World 2024
Now, let’s dive into the details of the ten most famous cricket tournaments worldwide without any further delay.
10. Border Gavaskar Trophy
- Format: Test Cricket
- First Edition: 1996–97 (India)
- Latest Edition: 2022–23 (India)
- Next Edition: 2024–25 (Australia)
- Tournament Format: Test Series
- Number of Teams: 2
- Current Trophy Holder: India
- Most Successful Team: India (10 Series Wins)
- Most Runs: Sachin Tendulkar (3,262)
- Most Wickets: Nathan Lyon (116)
The first famous cricket series on our list is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a Test cricket series contested between Australia and India. The series began in the 1996-97 season.
The name of the series honors two distinguished former captains: Allan Border from Australia and Sunil Gavaskar from India.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the oldest cricket tournaments, with the teams having played 50 Test matches between 1947 and 1996. India embarked on their first tour of Australia soon after gaining independence.
Both Australia and India are considered powerhouse teams in cricket, leading to intense competition between them.
Historically, India has been known for being formidable at home, but they had never managed to win a Test series in Australia. However, they broke that streak in the 2018-19 series, securing their first-ever Test series victory Down Under.
In the 2020-21 series, India continued their winning streak from the previous series. They defeated Australia by winning two Tests and drawing one, with the trophy remaining with the country that holds it in case of a tied series.
Since 1996, India’s Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches, scoring 3,262 runs from 65 innings. Similarly, Australia’s Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler in the series, taking 116 wickets.
9. Big Bash League
- Format: Twenty20
- First Edition: 2011–12
- Latest Edition: 2022–23
- Tournament Format: Double round-robin and Knockout finals
- Number of Teams: 8
- Current Champion: Perth Scorchers (5th title)
- Most Successful Team: Perth Scorchers (5 titles)
- Most Runs: Chris Lynn (3421)
- Most Wickets: Sean Abbott (154)
The Big Bash League (BBL), also known as the KFC Big Bash League, is a popular Twenty20 cricket league featuring professional franchises in Australia.
The league was established by Cricket Australia in 2011. It comprises eight city-based franchises, with each team sponsored by the fast-food chicken outlet KFC.
The tournament follows a consistent game format each year, except for the inaugural season. It takes place in Australia during the months of December, January, and February.
The Big Bash League is one of the top ten domestic sports leagues in terms of average attendance, along with another T20 cricket league. Among the eight teams participating in the league, six teams have won the title at least once.
In 2015, Cricket Australia introduced the women’s Big Bash League, which shares the names and colors of the existing men’s teams. The Sydney Thunder emerged as the winners in the opening game of the women’s league.
The Perth Scorchers were the champions of the 2022/23 Big Bash League season. They claimed victory in the final against the Sydney Sixers by a margin of 79 runs.
8. Pakistan Super League
- Format: Twenty20
- First Edition: 2016
- Latest Edition: 2023
- Next Edition: 2024
- Tournament Format: Double round-robin and Playoffs
- Number of Teams: 6
- Current Champion: Lahore Qalandars (2nd title)
- Most Successful Teams: Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United (2 titles each)
- Most Runs: Babar Azam (2,935)
- Most Wickets: Wahab Riaz (113)
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a popular Twenty20 cricket league in Pakistan. The tournament was established by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2015 and has quickly gained a significant following.
The PSL features six franchise teams representing different cities in Pakistan: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators. Each team consists of a mix of Pakistani and international players, adding to the diversity and competitiveness of the league.
The tournament follows a round-robin format, where each team plays against the others twice during the group stage. The top four teams then advance to the playoffs, culminating in an exciting final match to determine the PSL champion.
The PSL has not only provided a platform for established Pakistani cricketers but has also helped unearth new talent and promote young players. It has brought back international cricket to Pakistan, with matches being held in various cities across the country, including Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
The league has gained popularity due to its high-quality cricket, enthusiastic crowds, and competitive spirit. It has attracted both local and international cricket fans, becoming an integral part of Pakistan’s cricket culture.
The PSL has witnessed thrilling matches, intense rivalries, and memorable performances from players of all backgrounds. It has also contributed to the development of cricket infrastructure and talent in Pakistan.
Lahore Qalandars won the 2023 Pakistan Super League (PSL) title. They defeated Multan Sultans by 1 runs in the final. This was Lahore Qalandars’ second PSL title.
7. Caribbean Premier League
- Format: Twenty20
- First Edition: 2013
- Latest Edition: 2022
- Next Edition: 2023
- Tournament Format: Double round-robin and Playoffs
- Number of Teams: 6
- Current Champion: Jamaica Tallawahs (3rd title)
- Most Successful Team: Trinbago Knight Riders (4 titles)
- Most Runs: Lendl Simmons (2629)
- Most Wickets: Dwayne Bravo (124)
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a Twenty20 cricket tournament hosted in the Caribbean. It was founded by Cricket West Indies in 2013, and the league is sponsored by Hero MotorCorp while being hosted in the Caribbean.
The CPL serves as the premier Twenty20 competition, replacing the previous Caribbean Twenty20 tournament. The league consists of six teams, and the tournament has two stages: the group stage and the knockout stage.
The CPL is played across six stadiums, with each stadium serving as the home ground for one of the six participating teams.
Each team in the CPL has 15 contracted players, including five international players and four under-23 players. Additionally, each team has a mix of local and international players.
Since the inception of the tournament, the Trinbago Knight Riders have been the most successful team, winning the league four times. The Barbados Tridents and the Jamaica Tallawahs have each won the tournament twice.
In the 2020 season, the Trinbago Knight Riders claimed their fourth CPL title by defeating the St. Lucia Zouks in the finals with only one loss.
The current champions of the CPL are the Jamaica Tallawahs, who emerged victorious in the 2022 season. They secured their 3rd Caribbean Premier League trophy by defeating the Barbados royals by 8 wickets.
6. Asia Cup
- Format: ODI and T20I
- First Edition: 1984 (United Arab Emirates UAE)
- Latest Edition: 2022 (United Arab Emirates UAE)
- Next Edition: 2023 (Pakistan and Sri Lanka)
- Tournament Format: Group Stage and Knockouts
- Number of Teams: ACC member nations
- Current Champion: Sri Lanka (6th title)
- Most Successful: India (7 titles)
- Most Runs: Sanath Jayasuriya (1220)
- Most Wickets: Muttiah Muralitharan
The Asian Cup is a continental championship in cricket that includes both one-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 formats. It was established in 1983 to foster goodwill among Asian countries, and the tournament itself was launched in the same year.
Initially, the plan was to hold the cup every two years, alternating between the ODI and T20 formats. The first edition of the cup took place in the United Arab Emirates and featured the participation of India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. India emerged as the winner, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
Throughout its history, the Asian Cup has faced challenges due to political situations between countries. In the year 1986, India boycotted the tournament due to strained cricket relations with its neighbor country Sri Lanka. Similarly, Pakistan boycotted the series in the 1990-91 season due to political tensions with India.
Despite these challenges, the Asian Cup has served its original purpose of promoting good relations between countries. The tournament has been instrumental in strengthening bonds among Asian cricketing nations.
India holds the record for the most successful team in the Asian Cup, having won the title seven times. Sri Lanka follows closely in second place with Six titles.
In 2023, the Asia Cup cricket tournament was held in a hybrid model, with Pakistan as the host country. Pakistan proposed a plan to have some matches played in Pakistan and others in Sri Lanka.
5. Ashes Series
- Format: Test Cricket
- First Edition: 1882–83 (Australia)
- Latest Edition: 2021–22 (Australia)
- Next Edition: 2023 (England)
- Tournament Format: 5-Match Series
- Number of Teams: 2
- Current Trophy Holder: Australia
- Most Successful Team: Australia (34 Series Wins)
- Most Runs: Donald Bradman (5,028)
- Most Wickets: Shane Warne (195)
The next famous cricket tournament is the Ashes series, which is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is responsible for overseeing this series.
The Ashes series originated in 1882-83. Its name is derived from a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times, a British newspaper. The obituary humorously declared the “death” of English cricket after Australia achieved their first Test victory in England.
In response to the obituary, a small urn containing the ashes of a wooden ball, playfully referred to as “the ashes of Australian cricket,” was presented to England captain Ivo Bligh by Melbourne women. While the urn was not the official Ashes series trophy, it has since been replicated. The winning team receives a replica urn as a symbol of their victory in the Ashes series.
The Ashes series is hosted alternately by England and Australia, with each country hosting at least every two years. Traditionally, the series consists of five Test matches, and the team that wins the majority of the matches holds the Ashes. In case of a tie, the current holder retains the trophy.
A new version of the Ashes series called the Ashes Lite has recently been introduced. This format comprises three matches.
4. ICC Champions Trophy
- Format: One-Day International
- First Edition: 1998 Bangladesh
- Latest Edition: 2017 England & Wales
- Next Edition: 2025 Pakistan
- Tournament Format: Round-robin and Knockout
- Number of Teams: 8 (2009, 2013, 2017, 2025, 2029), 9 (1998), 10 (2006), 11 (2000)
- 12 (2002, 2004)
- Current Champion: Pakistan (1st title)
- Most Successful Teams: Australia (2 titles), India (2 titles)
- Most Runs: West Indies Chris Gayle (791)
- Most Wickets: Kyle Mills (28)
The ICC Champions Trophy is our Fourth most famous cricket tournament. It is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and features the one-day international cricket format.
The inaugural edition of the tournament took place in 1998 and was hosted by Bangladesh. Initially known as the ICC KnockOut tournament, it was later renamed the Champions Trophy in 2002. The tournament aims to generate funds for developing cricket in non-test match countries.
The Champions Trophy has been a commercial success, leading countries like India and England to host the tournament for revenue generation purposes for the ICC. The number of participating teams varies accordingly.
Since 2006, the tournament follows a round-robin format, with eight teams competing against each other. The current format consists of 15 games played over approximately two and a half weeks.
Originally, the last edition of the tournament was planned for 2013. However, due to its popularity and commercial success, it was extended to 2017.
International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded the hosting rights of the 2025 Champions Trophy to Pakistan. This will be the first time that Pakistan will host a major ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. The tournament will be held from February 2025 and will feature eight teams.
The 2025 Champions Trophy will be a major boost for cricket in Pakistan. It will help to raise the profile of the game in the country and attract more international tourists. It will also be a chance for Pakistan to showcase its hospitality and passion for cricket to the world.
3. T20 World Championship
- Format: Twenty20 International
- First Edition: 2007 South Africa
- Latest Edition: 2022 Australia
- Next Edition: 2024 United States West Indies
- Tournament Format: Twenty20
- Number of Teams: 20
- Current Champion: England (2nd title)
- Most Successful Teams: England, West Indies (2 titles each)
- Most Runs: Virat Kohli (1141)
- Most Wickets: Shakib Al Hasan (47)
The T20 World Championship, also known as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, is a renowned international cricket tournament featuring the shortest format of the game, Twenty20 (T20). It is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The tournament was first held in 2007, with South Africa hosting the inaugural edition. Since then, it has been scheduled at regular intervals of two to four years, bringing together national teams from around the world to compete for the T20 World Cup title.
The format of the tournament involves multiple teams competing in a series of matches, including group stages and knockout rounds. The teams are divided into groups, and they play against each other in a round-robin format. The top teams from each group advance to the knockout stages, including the semi-finals and the final, to determine the ultimate champion.
The T20 World Championship has gained immense popularity due to its fast-paced and exciting nature. It showcases the skills of top cricketers from different nations, with matches filled with big hits, quick runs, and intense bowling battles.
The tournament has been hosted by various countries over the years, with each edition offering thrilling moments and memorable performances. It attracts a wide global audience and generates significant excitement among cricket fans worldwide.
The T20 World Championship has played a crucial role in promoting and expanding the popularity of T20 cricket. It has become one of the most anticipated cricket events on the international calendar, offering teams the opportunity to claim the title of T20 world champions.
In the highly anticipated final of the 2022 World Cup, England and Pakistan faced off on November 13, 2022, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. The match was incredibly competitive, with both teams showcasing their skills and giving their all.
Ultimately, England emerged victorious in this closely contested match. The late hitting performances of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes played a crucial role in securing the win for England. Their exceptional batting skills and strategic play contributed to the team’s success, leading them to lift the trophy and become the champions of the 2022 World Cup.
2. Indian Premier League
- Format: Twenty20
- First Edition: 2008
- Latest Edition: 2023
- Next Edition: 2024
- Tournament Format: Round Robin format with Group System and Playoffs
- Number of Teams: 10
- Current Champion: Chennai Super Kings (2023)
- Most Successful Teams: Chennai Super Kings And Mumbai Indians (5 titles each)
- Most Runs: Virat Kohli (7263)
- Most Wickets: Yuzvendra Chahal (187)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most-watched sporting tournament in India. It is a professional men’s cricket league played in the Twenty20 format. Ten teams representing different Indian cities compete in the league.
The IPL was established by the Indian Board of Control for Cricket in 2007. Typically, the league takes place between March and May each year and has its own dedicated window in the ICC Future Tours program.
The format of the IPL is similar to England’s Premier League. Initially, eight cities participated in the league, but in 2010, two new franchises from Pune and Kerala joined.
In the league stage, each team plays against all the other teams twice, once at home and once away, following a round-robin format. The top four teams then move on to the playoffs, where the top two teams play in the first qualifier match.
The winner of the first qualifier advances directly to the IPL finals. However, the losing team gets another chance to qualify for the finals by playing in the second qualifier match.
In terms of average attendance, the IPL ranked Second among all sports leagues in 2019. It is also the most attended cricket league in the world.
In 2010, the IPL made history by being the first sporting event to be broadcast live on YouTube. Currently, there are Ten teams participating in the league. The Chennai Super Kings were the winners of the 2023 IPL season.
1. ICC Cricket World Cup
- Format: One Day International
- First Edition: 1975 England
- Latest Edition: 2023 India
- Next Edition: South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia
- Tournament Format: ODI
- Number of Teams: 10 (14 from 2027)
- Current Champion: Australia
- Most Successful Team: Australia (6 titles)
- Most Runs: Sachin Tendulkar (2,278)
- Most Wickets: Glenn McGrath (71)
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the most famous cricket tournament in the world. It is an international championship played in a one-day international format. The tournament is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is the governing body of the sport.
The first edition of the tournament took place in 1975 and was hosted by England. England also hosted the next two tournaments. These three events are officially known as the Prudential Cup because they were sponsored by Prudential.
Different countries have hosted the tournament over the years, sometimes even hosting it together. The format of the tournament has changed a lot throughout its history. Initially, eight teams were divided into two groups of four for the first four tournaments. Then, in 1993 and 2003, a different format was used.
In 2016, the tournament had 16 teams, divided into four groups. They played against each other in a round-robin format. The 2011 and 2015 tournaments had seven participating teams each. The 2019 tournament featured ten teams and followed a round-robin format as well. The World Cup is held every three years, and so far, there have been eleven editions with a total of twenty participating teams.
The 2019 Cricket World Cup Final is regarded as one of the most thrilling and unforgettable matches in the history of cricket. The teams competing in the final were England and New Zealand. Remarkably, after both teams’ innings and even the super-over, they ended up tied. To determine the winner, a boundary countback rule was applied, and England emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 2 runs. This victory marked England’s first-ever Cricket World Cup title.
The World Cup will be remembered for its incredible moments and the high level of skill displayed by the participating teams. It stands as a memorable chapter in the history of this prestigious tournament.
Australia holds the current championship title after winning the 2023 World Cup in India. The next World Cup in 2027 will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
