The T20 World Cup starts in Texas

T20World Cup

Cricket enters uncharted territory on Saturday as the first-ever major tournament in the United States kicks off in Texas with the opening match of the T20 World Cup.

A month-long festival of the sport’s fastest and most explosive form – shared between venues in Texas, Florida, New York and the Caribbean – kicks off with the US versus Canada at Grand Prairie Stadium on the outskirts of the city. of Dallas on Saturday.

It marks the opening skirmish of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) first-ever major event to be held partly in the United States.

While most of the tournament will be played in the Caribbean, 16 group stage matches in the 20-team tournament will be played on US soil, including the highlight of the group stage: a clash between India and Pakistan. on Long Island, New York.

The remainder of the tournament will be held in the West Indies, including the Super Eight stage, semi-finals and final, which will be played at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Although cricket is widely played at a recreational level in the United States, with a strong presence in all three states chosen for games, organizers are realistic about the chances of ‘converting’ mainstream American sports fans.

Instead, they expect the large immigrant communities from cricket-loving backgrounds, including in particular thousands of Indian fans, to fill the stadiums.

“I think first and foremost we want to celebrate those who are already avid cricket fans. They deserve to see the best players in the world come to their backyard and get that opportunity,” said Brett, CEO of T20 World Cup USA, Inc. Jones told AFP.

“Number two, I think it’s about encouraging curiosity in the game,” he said.

The ICC also sees the tournament as a springboard for the sport’s return to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, when the T20 format will be used.

India, winners of the inaugural edition in 2007, are the favourites, with a line-up packed with players from the annual Indian Premier League.

Australia, winners of last year’s ODI World Cup along with the World Test Championship, opted to leave out their experienced batsman Steve Smith, but David Warner and pacers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins offer plenty of experience.

Other possible contenders include defending champions England, who will be without the star of their 2022 triumph, Ben Stokes, who is managing his fitness after knee surgery. England warmed up for the tournament with a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan in London on Thursday.

Co-hosts West Indies won the tournament in 2012 and 2016 and hope they can capitalize on the familiarity of the region’s surfaces.

South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan will all take their chances to impress in a tournament that always throws up surprises.

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