Photo Credit: Cricket West Indies
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 – to be held in June – promises to be an unforgettable party with strong Caribbean flavors that will help plant cricket firmly in the American sporting landscape. This according to Tournament Director Fawwaz Baksh who said:
“When you pair up West Indies and USA, it’s a recipe for success We in the West Indies are known for a great time, we’re known for the party atmosphere. When fans come here and watch the games, they should expect that. So come here to watch great cricket, but come here also to have a great experience.”
Six countries in the West Indies – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago – will co-host the tournament along with three cities in the United States – New York, Fort Lauderdale, and Dallas. Baksh is convinced the best way to inject cricket into a packed U.S. sports market is by making the global showpiece a grand party. Since the public ballot was launched over four million applications from 126 countries
“Introducing cricket into the USA, which is a new market to us, we weren’t quite sure what the response would be. We know there are quite a lot of expats in the United States and people from all across the world are interested in cricket. But to see this kind of response, it’s very encouraging,”
he said.
The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be the biggest yet, with an increase to 20 teams from 16. Healthy crowds are expected with ticket prices for this year’s tournament starting at only US$6.
“If you want to introduce the sport in the United States if you want to revitalize cricket in the West Indies, you have to get the fans here,”
he said.
“And the only way you can get the fans here is by making tickets attractive, making them accessible.”
Baksh added:
“We all wanted this tournament here, and we all want to capitalize on it. When the tournament is over, people all across the world will say ‘T20 World Cup should only be hosted in the West Indies and the U.S. That’s our goal and that’s what we’re going to make it.”
