United States Due in June T-Twenty Cricket World Cup organizers say early ticket sales have shown that the game is in high demand among cricket fans in the country.
According to the French news agency AFP, the International Cricket Council (ICC) says that long-time rivals in cricket Pakistan And India The anticipated match in New York between was 200 times oversubscribed in a public poll for tickets.
The 34,000-seat temporary stadium at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island is not yet complete, but all tickets for the June 9 match have been assured to be sold out.
This tournament is jointly hosted by West Indies and USA.
Although large crowds are expected from traditional cricket-playing countries in the Caribbean, this will be the first time an international tournament will be held in the United States, with 16 matches to be played in Lauderhill, South Florida and Grand Prairie near Dallas. Stadium matches are also included.
T20 World Cup USA Inc chief executive Brett Jones told AFP on Friday: ‘The interest in tickets has been amazing. The ballot process shows that the demand is very high.’
He added: ‘A match between Pakistan and India is very interesting in every World Cup. I think it’s really nice to see both of these countries in America.’
India and Pakistan will play all their group matches in the US and a large number of expatriates living in the country are sure to come to watch the matches.
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli (centre) with his Pakistani counterparts Babar Azam (left) and Mohammad Rizwan during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 24, 2021. (right) are congratulated on their victory (File Photo: AFP)
While organizers hope to attract some Americans to the sport, they are well aware that the sport already has a strong interest in the immigrant population and are targeting those fans. Is.
Jones said: ‘I think first of all, we have to join the joy of people who are already fanatical and passionate about cricket. They want to see the best players in the world in their country and they have this opportunity.’
He said: ‘So firstly we want to make sure that happens and that they feel like the game they want. The second I think is to increase curiosity in the game.’
Americans have never been enamored with cricket and prefer baseball for its bat-and-ball action, but the game is about to get an unprecedented platform in the country with the T20 format, which has been played for four years. Los Angeles Olympics are also included in the period.
Jones said: ‘Obviously the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 and then the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032 are great opportunities for cricket. I think both of these things are to our advantage.’
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He added: ‘We want to reward our cricket fans and cricket lovers in America, which is a huge market. Then we want to build curiosity after that and hopefully start a conversation at the community level about the sport and its benefits.’
Ireland, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Canada will also play in the US along with the host nation.
As there is no dearth of interest, the organizers still have a lot to do to set up the necessary facilities and infrastructure for the global tournament.
Lauderhill Stadium, located just outside Fort Lauderdale, has already hosted international cricket matches, but it is undergoing significant changes.
Grand Prairie Stadium was opened last year as a new domestic tournament for Major League Cricket, but is being expanded for the tournament.
Jones said: ‘We still have a lot of work to do to ensure that we can provide access to our cricket fans.
He added: ‘We want to show people that in a sports-loving country where entertainment is needed, cricket is a great entertainment game.’
The tournament will begin on June 1 with a match between USA and Canada in Texas.
US vice-captain Aaron Jones said he hopes the team’s performance will inspire youngsters who want to take up the sport.
He said: ‘We want to show everyone in the world that America can be a cricket playing country and a role model for the kids coming up.’
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2024-07-27 05:16:00