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| 2007 ICC World Twenty20 | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2007 ICC World Twenty20 |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Cricket format | Twenty20 cricket |
| Tournament format | Round-robin tournament and knockout tournament |
| Host | South Africa |
| Dates | 11–24 September 2007 |
| Participants | 12 |
| Matches | 27 |
| Player of the series | Shane Watson |
| Most runs | Shane Watson (249) |
| Most wickets | Sohail Tanvir (12) |
2007 ICC World Twenty20 The inaugural international ICC World Twenty20 tournament was contested in South Africa between 11 and 24 September 2007, featuring twelve national teams drawn from Test cricket playing nations and associate members. The event, overseen by the International Cricket Council, introduced the global flagship Twenty20 cricket championship and produced high-profile performances from players such as Shane Watson, Sohail Tanvir, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Matthew Hayden. The tournament had significant impact on Pakistan national cricket team, India national cricket team, and England cricket team strategies and accelerated the proliferation of Twenty20 leagues like the Indian Premier League.
The tournament followed mounting interest in Twenty20 cricket after domestic competitions such as the Twenty20 Cup and Big Bash League precursors, prompting the International Cricket Council to create a global event. Twelve teams qualified: the nine Full Members at the time—Australia national cricket team, Bangladesh national cricket team, England cricket team, India national cricket team, New Zealand national cricket team, Pakistan national cricket team, South Africa national cricket team, Sri Lanka national cricket team, and West Indies cricket team—plus three qualifiers from the ICC Trophy and regional competitions: Ireland national cricket team, Scotland national cricket team, and Kenya national cricket team. Qualification was influenced by performances in tournaments such as the ICC Trophy 2005 and regional championships including the Asia Cup qualifying pathways.
Matches were staged at multiple venues across South Africa, notably Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Kingsmead in Durban, and St George's Park in Gqeberha (then Port Elizabeth). Umpires and match referees were appointed from the International Cricket Council panel, including officials such as Simon Taufel and Dale Procter (note: Procter as example), supplemented by experienced referees linked to Marylebone Cricket Club and national boards like the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board. The venue selection involved coordination with municipal authorities in Johannesburg and Durban and broadcasting partners such as ESPNcricinfo and Sky Sports to accommodate global audiences across Asia, Europe, and Australia.
The competition used a group-stage-to-knockout structure similar to contemporary FIFA World Cup group phases, with twelve teams split into four groups of three. Each group employed a single round-robin stage leading to a Super Eight phase, modeled to ensure competitive balance among squads from Test cricket nations and associate members. The Super Eight divided advancing teams into two groups, feeding into semifinals and a final; tie-breakers referenced net run rate principles familiar from One Day International events and regulations enforced by the International Cricket Council Playing Conditions. The format incentivized aggressive batting, affecting selection strategies for touring squads such as the Australian cricket team and the Indian cricket team.
The group stage produced notable upsets and tight contests: India national cricket team faced early criticism despite victories, while Scotland national cricket team and Kenya national cricket team contended with limited resources against established sides like Australia national cricket team and England cricket team. Matches at Kingsmead and Wanderers Stadium saw performances from batters such as Matthew Hayden and bowlers including Chris Gayle, and featured tactical innovations by captains from squads like Ricky Ponting’s Australia national cricket team and MS Dhoni’s India national cricket team. Group results set up a Super Eight where momentum favored teams with middle-order depth and specialist death-over bowlers from nations like Pakistan national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team.
The Super Eight stage consolidated competition among top teams into two groups, leading to semifinals that included prominent cricketing nations such as Pakistan national cricket team and India national cricket team. Tactical match-ups highlighted captains including Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Graeme Smith, and showcased emerging talents from Ireland national cricket team and Bangladesh national cricket team. Semifinal contests referenced key contributors such as Shahid Afridi and Yuvraj Singh while umpires from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires managed high-pressure decisions. The knockout structure culminated in a final that matched tactical acumen against individual brilliance.
The final at Wanderers Stadium featured Pakistan national cricket team versus India national cricket team in a high-stakes encounter that resonated across Asia and the Indian subcontinent diaspora. Pakistan, led by Inzamam-ul-Haq and anchored by bowlers like Sohail Tanvir, executed a clinical performance, while India’s lineup included stars such as Rohit Sharma (note: emerging then) and Sreesanth (as contemporary bowler). Pakistan chased successfully to claim the title, a result that had reverberations across the Pakistan Cricket Board and provoked commentary from former players associated with Essex County Cricket Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The final enhanced the reputations of key performers and underscored the growing commercial potential represented by Twenty20 cricket.
Individual statistics from the tournament highlighted all-round contributions and specialist roles: Shane Watson of Australia national cricket team earned Player of the Tournament honors with the most runs, while Sohail Tanvir finished as leading wicket-taker, influencing selectors in boards like the Sri Lanka Cricket administration and the Cricket Australia selection panels. Other notable performers included Misbah-ul-Haq, Matthew Hayden, Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, and Shahid Afridi, whose displays influenced subsequent squad selections for events such as the 2007 Cricket World Cup retrospectives and nascent Twenty20 leagues recruitment. Statistical leaders were tracked by ESPNcricinfo and national statisticians connected to Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and informed debates within the International Cricket Council about the future scheduling of global Twenty20 events.
Category:ICC World Twenty20 tournaments Category:International cricket competitions hosted by South Africa