Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland believes the women's World Cup is "ready to take its own centre stage," saying that CA is lobbying to host the '20 edition of the tournament "at a completely different time of year to the men," according to Ben Horne of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Currently there are "major advantages in holding the two events concurrently and allowing female players to experience the atmosphere and occasion of contesting a final on the same day as their male counterparts." Sutherland "understands that moving away from this model has its risks." So "confident" is Sutherland that the "women's game is booming," he is prepared to "roll the dice and propose to the ICC that they hold the 2020 women’s World T20 in February-March, months before the men are scheduled to battle it out in October-November." This proposal "may not work in other countries," but following the success of the Women's Big Bash League in Australia, Sutherland said that the ICC "could be selling the product short by not giving the women their own uninterrupted spotlight." Sutherland: "I think this is fantastic to have the women on the same stage but I also think there’s a possibility that by hosting both events but having them separate, we might be able to build something even more unique and create more focus for the women." Sutherland has been "inspired by the mainstream success of last year's Women's Soccer World Cup held in Canada and has visions of big crowds and mega television ratings if the women were given prime-time billing" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 4/4).
