In a much-anticipated announcement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the schedule for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with a headline-grabbing group-stage clash between cricket rivals India and Pakistan set to take place in New York on June 9. The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States and the West Indies, will run from June 1 to 29.
The tournament kicks off at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas, where the United States will face Canada on June 1. Both teams are making their debut appearances in a T20 World Cup.
A novel addition to the cricket landscape, a 34,000-seat modular stadium in Nassau County, located 30 miles east of downtown Manhattan, will host the much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan on June 9, one of eight games to be played at this venue.
For the first time in history, a major international cricket tournament will feature 16 games held in the United States. Established cricket venue Lauderhill in South Florida will also play host to games involving cricket powerhouses India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Cricket, considered a niche sport in the United States, enjoys significant support from the South Asian and Caribbean communities. Peter Hutton, Chair of T20 World Cup Incorporated, expressed excitement about the opportunity to grow the sport exponentially in the country.
Geoff Allardice, ICC Chief Executive, emphasized the significance of these games in the United States as a “new frontier” for cricket’s expansion, making a statement in the world’s largest sports market.
The tournament format consists of 20 teams divided into four groups of five, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the ‘Super Eights.’ The Super Eight games will be held in the Caribbean, specifically in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The semi-finals, scheduled for June 26/27, will take place in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, with the grand finale set to be held in Barbados on June 29.
Group Stage Teams:
– Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, US
– Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman
– Group C: New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea
– Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal
