Cricket ventures into uncharted territory this Saturday as the first-ever major ICC event, the T20 World Cup, kicks off in the United States. The month-long festival of the sport’s fastest format will be a shared spectacle, with matches played in Texas, Florida, New York, and the Caribbean islands.
The opening skirmish will see the USA take on Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas, marking a historic moment for American cricket. While the majority of the tournament will be staged in the West Indies, 16 group-stage games, including the highly-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in Long Island, New York, will unfold on American soil.
While mainstream American sports fans might not be the immediate target audience, organizers are optimistic about engaging the large immigrant communities with deep cricket roots, particularly the passionate Indian fan base. “We want to celebrate existing cricket fans and give them the chance to see the best players in the world on home soil,” said T20 World Cup USA CEO Brett Jones. “Spiking curiosity in the game” is another key objective, potentially paving the way for cricket’s return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, where the T20 format will be contested.
India, boasting a star-studded lineup honed in the Indian Premier League, enter the tournament as favorites. Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup and World Test Championship champions, will be without veteran Steve Smith but still possess firepower with David Warner and a fearsome pace attack led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Defending champions England, missing the hero of their 2022 triumph Ben Stokes due to injury management, are contenders alongside the co-hosts West Indies, who will seek an advantage playing on familiar Caribbean pitches. South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan all harbor ambitions of causing upsets in a tournament known for its unpredictable nature.
