If reports are to be believed, then the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) might lose their hosting rights for the T20 World Cup 2024 due to issues with a lack of infrastructure in the US.
The talk around the USA’s lack of readiness for the 2024 T20 World Cup is intensifying, and the region’s inadequate infrastructure remains a source of concern. The United States and the West Indies are co-hosting the prestigious event, but the decision-makers are forced to look at other choices due to the country’s underdeveloped infrastructure.
With only 12 months to go, the USA is facing an uphill task to have the required cricketing infrastructure in place to pull off the event.
It has been credibly reported by News18 CricketNext that the ICC might ask England to host the event. England, Ireland, and Scotland will host the 2030 T20 World Cup, according to an ICC announcement from November 2021 that revealed the 14 nations that will stage white ball competitions from 2024 through 2031.
There are now serious discussions of handing the hosting duties back to the USA and the West Indies for 2030 after England, Ireland, and Scotland hosted the 2024 edition. This action may provide the USA adequate time to prepare for hosting a major event like the T20 World Cup.
Over the last few months, News18 CricketNext reached out to multiple stakeholders in the US and none of them sounded optimistic on the infrastructure situation.
“Where will you host it? I can tell you that the ICC site visits which happened recently, many parks, free spaces with some green cover to be precise, were being explored to have a modular set-up in place for the World Cup. Modular stands and everything else also modular in nature. But it’s going to be one hell of a task to even pull that off and even if they do, not entirely sure whether it would meet ICC standards. There are lot of ICC checklists for a venue and I highly doubt the modular or the makeshift venues will make the cut,” says a former USA cricket official.
Current Situation In The USA Will Make It “Very Tough” To Host The World Cup: Dr Atul Rai
Even the current facilities are not up to pace for an ICC event, according to Dr. Atul Rai, the former interim chairman of USA Cricket and current board member, who stated last month that the current circumstances in the USA will make it “very tough” to host the World Cup.
“Not really. I don’t think so. Not where we stand right now. But then again ICC has to make the final call. But without proper infrastructure, nothing is going to happen. We don’t have any existing facilities so it’s up to the ICC whether they will invest money in some makeshift venue and even host some games. But it’s a very tough situation, to be honest. ICC has recognised that too.
“Even the one in Florida (Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill) requires a lot of work. Even that stadium, which hosts India-West Indies games regularly, is not up to par for an ICC event. None of the others are capable of hosting a big-time event like the World Cup. That’s why they (ICC) were looking into temporary venues. Again, it’s up to the ICC because they are the decision-makers and USA Cricket was never a signatory to that because we are (an) Associate Member, not (a) Full Member. It’s ultimately between CWI and ICC,” Rai told Cricket Next.