New York is poised to host a high-stakes clash between cricket rivals India and Pakistan in the first group stage of the T20 World Cup next year, targeting cricket enthusiasts in the South Asian community in America. The USA, co-hosting with the West Indies, will see India, Pakistan, and eight other nations play their opening group-stage games. The anticipated India-Pakistan face-off is expected to unfold in a new 34,000-seat modular stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York, a strategic move given the substantial Indian and Pakistani population in the region.
With just three venues confirmed, including Central Broward Park in Florida, Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, and Eisenhower Park, organizers are accommodating the 10-and-a-half-hour time difference between New York and New Delhi. Morning starts for some games, especially those involving India, are slated to cater to Indian television audiences.
While the full schedule is pending confirmation by the International Cricket Council and local organizing committees, England and Australia are set to play their group games in the Caribbean. England’s matches, both in the initial group and potential Super 8 round, will be in Antigua, Barbados, and St Lucia, while Australia will explore venues in St Vincent, Guyana, and Trinidad.
Although the final’s venue is yet to be confirmed, Barbados is a likely choice, having hosted the finals of the 2007 50-over World Cup and the 2010 T20 event. England, the defending champions from the 2022 T20 World Cup, will look to make their mark in familiar Caribbean locations.
Geoff Allardice, ICC Chief Executive, emphasized the strategic importance of the USA market, anticipating the T20 World Cup’s positive impact on cricket’s growth in the country. Vijay Srinivasan, co-Founder of Major League Cricket, expressed commitment to building top-notch cricketing facilities, paving the way for the T20 World Cup’s success and leaving a lasting legacy for the sport across the nation.
