T20 World Cup 2024 – Pakistan switches hotel in New York to avoid long commute

Pakistan was booked to stay in a hotel about an hour and a half away. ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB has taken the arrangement seriously and arranged for the team to move to a hotel on Long Island, about a ten-minute drive from the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan arrives in New York from Dallas on June 7 and will play India at the venue two days later. The Indian team is lodged in a hotel about ten minutes from the ground, and has been in New York for more than a week, playing its warm-up match against Bangladesh and its first group game against Ireland in the area.

Sri Lanka were sitting in Brooklyn ahead of their match against South Africa, 90 minutes from the ground. Logistics issues led to them canceling their training session the night before the game to avoid fatigue. Before their morning game, Sri Lanka were forced to start their day at 7am and ended up losing badly against South Africa. Bowler Maheesh Theekshana called the arrangement and equipment “unfair” and Sri Lanka manager Mahinda Halangoda told ESPNcricinfo that they have filed a formal complaint about their travel arrangements for the tournament.

The PCB decided not to wait and raised concerns that their hotel was too far from land, insisting on a change of accommodation. The ICC finally accepted the request. Pakistan play India on Sunday 9 June, and Canada two days later in New York.