Twenty20

Twenty20 is a fast form of cricket in which each side bats for just twenty overs. The form of cricket introduced in England for professional county completion by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The game is completed in about three and half hours, each innings lasting 75 minutes. Twenty20 cricket is set to revolutionize the world of cricket. After six years of experience with the international Twenty20, nearly 150 matches had been played. Many nations introduced Twenty20 domestic matches and club tournaments like Indian Premier League (IPL).

Wikipedia says about it history.

• The idea of a shortened format of the game at a professional level was discussed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 1998 and 2001. 

• When the Benson & Hedges Cup ended in 2002, the ECB needed another one day competition to fill its place. The cricketing authorities were looking to boost the game's popularity with the younger generation in response to dwindling crowds and reduced sponsorship. It was intended to deliver fast paced, exciting cricket accessible to thousands of fans who were put off by the longer versions of the game. Stuart Robertson, the marketing manager of the ECB, proposed a 20 over per innings game to county chairmen in 2001 and they voted 11-7 in favour of adopting the new format. A media group was invited to develop a name for the new game and Twenty20 was the chosen title. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket. A mathematician from Perth, Western Australia, Dr George Christos, also claims to have proposed a similar format to the ICC and ECB in 1997. However, the ICC has dismissed his involvement in developing the final concept. 

• Twenty20 cricket was formally introduced in 2003 when the ECB launched the Twenty20 Cup and was marketed with the slogan “I don’t like cricket, I love it”, taken from the 10cc song "Dreadlock Holiday".

The first Twenty20 matches were played on June 13, 2003 at England between English county teams in the Twenty20 Cup. The first Twenty 20 International was at Eden Park in Auckland on February 17, 2005. Australia and New Zealand were played the match and Australia won. The Hindu wrote about the match, “Hopefully the game survived the night. Probably it did. Cricket has been around a long time and has worn many faces. Often it has scowled. Sometimes it has remembered to laugh.” 

Format

Twenty20 is a limited over match. Two teams involves in the match, each side have 11 players. Each team bats with a single innings for maximum of 20 overs. The batting team members arrive from and depart to a bench that visible in the playing area. Do not use traditional dressing rooms.

Rules

The twenty20 cricket follows the Laws of Cricket with some exceptions.

• Each bowler may bowl a maximum of four overs (one-fifth of the total overs per innings)
• If Bowler delivers a no ball by overstepping the popping crease, it costs penalty of one run and his next delivery is designated “free hit”. The free hit ball will not dismiss the batsman apart from being run-out.
• Twenty20 cricket rule imposes strict penalties on bowling team doesn’t start to bowl their 20 th over within 75 minutes. As per this rule, a bonus of 6 runs is awarded to the batting team. The umpire may add more time to this if they believe the batting team is wasting time. This rule is intended to be strictly imposed for completing matches within three hours.
• Twenty20 cricket following fielding restrictions also: Only five fielders can field on the leg side at any time. During the first six overs, a maximum of two fielders can be outside the circle.

Tie

If match that end in a tie, each team play again with super overs and to decide winner. It is sometimes referred to as eliminator. Each team nominates three batsmen and one bowler to play a one over per side on the same pitch with same ball. If two wickets fall before the over is completed their innings is over. The side wins with the higher score form the super over. The method introduced the match between New Zealand and West Indies on December 26, 2008 at Eden Park, Auckland.

Previously, the tied Twenty20 matches were decided by bowl-out. It is similar to penalty shootout in association football match. Five bowlers from each side deliver at unguarded stumps. Most wicket taking team will win. The first international bowl-out was took place on February 16, 2006 when New Zealand beat West Indies in Eden Park, Auckland. A bowl-out was also used in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 with the match between India and Pakistan in Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa on September 14, 2007.

T20 Internationals

The test playing nations played T20Is. But some nations also played the T20Is. The test playing nations’ first T20Is list is here.

Nations	Debut T20Is
Australia	February17, 2005
New Zealand	February 17, 2005
England	June 13, 2005
South Africa	October 21, 2005
West Indies	February 16, 2006
Sri Lanka	June 15, 2006
Pakistan	August 28, 2006
Bangladesh	November 28, 2006
Zimbabwe	November 28, 2006
India	December 1, 2006

Kenya, Scotland, Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, Bermuda and Afghanistan played T20Is also. Their T20Is debut list is here.

Kenya	September 1, 2007
Scotland	September 12, 2007
Netherlands	August 2, 2008
Ireland	August 2, 2008
Canada	August 2, 2008
Bermuda	August 3, 2008
Afghanistan	February 2, 2010

Twenty20 Events

ICC World Twenty20

ICC introduced ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. It is also known as Twenty20 World Cup. Every two years the tournament is to take place. The first edition was held at South Africa and won by India. England was host the second edition of tournament. Pakistan won it. Next edition will be held in West Indies in 2010. It will be taking place only ten months after the last tournament. It is need to correct the international cricketing tournament calendar.

Domestic Twenty20

Many nations introduced twenty20 tournaments in their domestic cricket events.

Australia

Twenty20 Big Bash

Cricket Australia organized Twenty20 tournament called Twenty20 Big Bash. It is sponsored by fast food outlet, KFC. Six teams participated in the tournament. The teams are Victorian Bushrangers, New South Wales Blues, Tasmanian Tigers, Western Warriors, Southern Redbacks and Queensland Bulls.

Bangladesh

Premier League T20

It is cricket tournament of twelve of Dhaka’s best clubs. It is known as Premier Division Twenty20 Cricket League. The tournament follows the ICC regulations for Twenty20 cricket. The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metro (CCDM), a sub committee of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is manages the league. The teams are Mohammadan SC, Bangladesh Biman, Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity, Partex Sporting Club, BKSP, Victoria Sporting, Gazi Tank Cricketers, Old DOHS Club, Kalabagan Kira Chakra, Abahani Limited, Surjo Turon Club and Cricket Coaching School.

England

Twenty20 Cup

The Twenty20 Cup is a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs. It was started in 2003. 18 teams participated in the tournament. The teams are Derbyshire Phantoms, Durham Dynamos, Essex Eagles, Glamorgan Dragons, Gloucestershire Gladiators, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex Panthers, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Somerset Sabres, Surrey Brown Caps, Sussex Sharks, Warwickshire Bears, Worcestershire Royals and Yorkshire Carnegie.

India

Indian Premier League

Indian Premier League is a Twenty20 competition created by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Eight teams participated in the tournament. The teams are Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

Indian Cricket League

The Indian Cricket League (ICL) is a private cricket league. Nine city teams and four international teams are in the tournament. The nine teams are Mumbai Champs, Chennai Superstars, Chandigarh Lions, Hyderabad Heroes, Royal Bengal Tigers (Kolkata), Delhi Giants, Ahmedabad Rockets, Lahore Badshahs and Dhaka Warriors. The international teams are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and rest of the World.

New Zealand

HRV Cup

HRV Cup is the domestic Twenty20 competition in New Zealand. HRV is sponsor of the tournament. It was previously named State Twenty20. Six teams are participants. The teams are Canterbury Wizards, Auckland Aces, Central Districts Stags, Otago Volts, Northern Districts Knights and Wellington Firebirds.

Pakistan

RBS Twenty20

The Twenty-20 Cup is the domestic Twenty20 cricket championship in Pakistan. It was sponsored by ABN AMRO before in 2008; it was renamed as the RBS Twenty20 Cup being sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland. 13 teams participated. The teams are Abbottabad Rhinos, Faisalabad Wolves, Hyderabad Hawks, Islamabad Leopards, Karachi Dolphins, Karachi Zebras, Lahore Eagles, Lahore Lions, Multan Tigers, Peshawar Panthers, Quetta Bears, Rawalpindi Rams and Sialkot Stallions.

South Africa

Pro20 Series

The Standard Bank Pro20 Series is Twenty20 cricket competition in South Africa. Seven teams in the tournament. The teams are Cape Cobras, Dolphins, Diamond Eagles, Highveld Lions, Titans, Warriors and Zimbabwe Chevrons.

Sri Lanka

Inter-Provincial Twenty20

Inter-Provincial Twenty20 is a Twenty 20 domestic Cricket competition in Sri Lanka. Six teams participated. The teams are Wayamba elevens, Ruhuna elevens, Basnahira South elevens, Kandurata elevens, Basnahira North elevens and Sri Lanka Cricket Combined XI.

West Indies

Stanford 20/20

The Stanford 20/20 Tournament was a cricket tournament in the Caribbean island of Antigua. 20 teams participated. The teams are Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis , Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago,  Turks and Caicos Islands and United States Virgin Islands.

Zimbabwe

Metropolitan Bank Twenty20

Metropolitan Bank Twenty20 is the domestic twenty 20 cricket competition in Zimbabwe. It was formed in 2007 and maintained by Zimbabwe Cricket Union. Five teams participated in the tournament. The teams are Easterns, Northerns, Southerns, Westerns and Centrals.

Canada

Scotiabank National T20

Scotiabank National T20 Championship is the first ever Twenty 20 domestic competition in Canada. First season started in 2008. eight teams participated. The teams are Ontario, Ontario B, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Kenya

National Elite League Twenty20

National Elite League Twenty20 is a Twenty 20 domestic Cricket competition in Kenya held by Cricket Kenya. It is a part of the Sahara Elite League program. Four teams participated. The teams are Northern Nomads, Southern Stars, Eastern Aces and Western Chiefs.

United States of America

Pro Cricket

Pro Cricket was a professional cricket league in the United States. It was operated by American Pro Cricket LLC (APC). Eight teams was participated. The teams are New York Storm, New Jersey Fire, D.C. Forward, Florida Thunder, Chicago Tornadoes, San Francisco Freedom, Los Angeles Unity and Texas Arrow Heads.  

International club tournament

Champions League Twenty20

Champions League Twenty20 is twenty20 cricket tournament featuring teams from vivid nations. The teams are winners of their domestic twenty20 event. Indian Premier League (India), KFC Twenty20 Big Bash (Australia), Twenty20 Cup (England), HRV Cup (New Zealand), Standard Bank Pro20 Series (South Africa), Stanford 20/20 (West Indies) and Inter Provincial Twenty20 (Sri Lanka) are qualifying tournament for the CLT20.