ICC Research Shows India Holds 90% Of Global Cricket Fans

The largest-ever market research into cricket conducted by the Int'l Cricket Council showed that the sport has "over one billion fans globally," with the Indian sub-continent constituting more than 90% of them, according to the PTI. The research found the average age of fans (in the surveyed age category of 16-69) to be 34, with a demographic breakdown of 61% male and 39% female. The research was "undertaken to enable the ICC and its members to understand the growth potential of cricket," help shape the development of the growth focused global strategy for the game, drive decision making and to "provide a benchmark upon which to measure the outcomes of the strategy." Close to 70% of fans are interested in test cricket, with fans in England & Wales "showing the strongest interest" in the format (86%). South Africa leads the interest in ODI cricket (91%) and Pakistan in T20I cricket (98%). Globally, T20I is the "most popular format," with 92% interest, while ODIs are "close," with 88% interest (PTI, 6/27).