NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, the global cricketing body celebrated the inauguration of Nassau County International Cricket Stadium near New York, as it expressed its excitement for expanding cricket through the forthcoming T20 World Cup in June.
The stadium has a sitting capacity of 34000 and is endowed with Las Vegas Formula 1 circuit like infrastructure with drop-in pitches prepared in Florida. Amongst its eight encounters slated to be held during the World Cup, this stadium will host India-Pakistan iconic clash on 9th June.
The main Twenty20 tournament will be co-hosted by West Indies and United States beginning on 1st June with grounds located in New York, Florida and Dallas. The attention surrounding India Pakistan clash is appreciated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to be attracted towards Nassau project which aims at promoting cricket’s presence across America.
“Yes completely! We could have that game anywhere and it would be enormous interest,” said Chris Tetley while speaking to journalists in a media roundtable meeting who is ICC head of events.
“What we have seen around those news stories and also within US itself as well as among the cricket media globally. I have never witnessed anything like this before around an ICC event.”
Tetley added: “We are really excited about bringing T20 World Cup cricket to the USA and what opportunities there are for sport here; so it seems that there’s a ready audience waiting for us.”
T20 Cricket will also feature as one of five new sports at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
It had been a massive challenge for International Cricket Council (ICC) to construct a cricket stadium in Nassau hence they brought Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough on board.
Hough devised first ever drop-in pitch at Adelaide Oval in 2013 and latest strips at Nassau County ground are good cricket wickets offering balance between bat ball contest.
“People should not be concerned about drop-in pitches,” Hough said.
“Around the world they have been proven and definitely in Australia. Drop-in pitches some of the best cricket is played on and are really successful.”
