2024 T20 wordl cup has 20 teams, 9 venues and multiple time zones
In a candid assessment, the International Cricket Council (ICC) acknowledged on Wednesday that the schedule for this year’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies posed unprecedented challenges, deeming it “the most complicated ever to draft.” The tournament’s expansion to include a record 20 teams, up from 16 in the 2022 edition, necessitated meticulous planning across nine venues in North America, notably featuring a notable 34,000-seater stadium in Nassau County, New York.
The revelation of the Long Island ground, set to host eight World Cup games, including the highly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on June 9, marked a significant milestone. This temporary modular stadium, complete with drop-in pitches but sans floodlights, was presented as a strategic choice due to the vibrant cricket fandom in New York. Chris Tetley, the ICC’s Head of Events, shared insights during an online media roundtable, expressing high expectations for a packed venue and an electric World Cup atmosphere.
Tetley, emphasized the intrinsic value of bringing top-notch cricket to a world-class venue. Despite considering the time of day as a factor, Tetley underscored the anticipation of witnessing world-class cricket with the finest players in action, promising a spectacular show.
The T20 World Cup’s intricate schedule kicks off with the USA facing neighbors Canada on June 1 in Dallas, followed by the West Indies commencing their campaign against Papua New Guinea in Guyana. The culmination of the tournament is set for June 29 in Bridgetown, Barbados. Tetley, drawing from his extensive experience, candidly labeled this edition’s match schedule as the most complex ever, given the unprecedented number of matches and participating teams.