Cricket in America: A Historic T20 World Cup
A little less than 200 years ago, the St. George’s Cricket Club in New York hosted the first international cricket game between the United States and Canada in 1844. Now, 180 years later, the U.S. is set to welcome cricket back with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Bringing a new sport to a country has its risks, but ICC CEO Geoff Allardice believes that hosting this event in the U.S. is a milestone for cricket. “Bringing the biggest teams and matches to one of the world’s largest sports markets is a great opportunity for our sport,” Allardice said from his New York hotel.
Cricket’s Growing Presence in the U.S.
The U.S. will host 16 of the 55 matches, including the opening game between Canada and the U.S. on June 1 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Hosting an international tournament like this is a great honor, and the sport has been slowly gaining traction in the country.
Allardice mentioned that the T20 tournament is significant no matter where it’s played. The proposal from USA Cricket and Cricket West Indies to co-host the event was a unique opportunity, especially given the recent developments in American cricket.
“There have been exciting developments in the U.S. over the last 12 to 18 months,” Allardice noted. “The launch of Major League Cricket got a lot of traction among U.S. cricket fans, and this event takes it to another level.”
The inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is another significant milestone for the sport in America.
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A Rare Chance to Witness Elite Cricket
Allardice highlighted the large cricket fan base in the U.S. that rarely gets to experience “elite level cricket.” He emphasized the importance of the event, noting the sold-out matches and the ICC’s T20 World Cup efforts to cater to high demand by setting up fan parks in the three host cities and other countries like Pakistan, South Africa, and India.
“There’s a huge fan base here, scattered in different pockets across the country,” Allardice said. “The number of fans and participants in the U.S. compares favorably to many traditional cricketing countries.”
The tournament also offers the U.S. cricket team a chance to shine. As a relatively young team, this will be their first participation in a T20 event. “The USA team’s participation is crucial for promoting interest in national teams and the sport,” Allardice stated.
He found it encouraging that the U.S. cricket team defeated Bangladesh in the T20 series in May, showcasing a promising future for the sport in the country.
The First Modular Cricket Stadium
The 2024 T20 World Cup will be the first time the game is played in a temporary stadium. A 34,000-seat modular cricket stadium was built in Nassau County, Long Island, just for the event. This stadium will host eight matches, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash on June 9.
“India versus Pakistan is one of the greatest international sporting rivalries,” Allardice said. “Bringing that match to New York is very exciting for our sport.”
For the ICC T20 World Cup, hosting the tournament in the U.S. is a unique chance to introduce cricket to a new market and leave a lasting legacy. “Cricket is very popular globally, and we see opportunities to make it popular in the U.S.,” Allardice explained. He noted the strong sports market in the U.S. and the growing interest in cricket with the World Cup being held in the country.
The 2024 ICC will run from June 1 to 29 in the U.S. and West Indies. Tickets are available on the tournament website, with sold-out matches accessible through third-party sites like Stubhub, Tickets Center, and SeatGeek.
