Mitchell Treasure |
The final preparations for the 2024 Cricket World Cup are entering an important phase, all eyes are on New York, which will host one of the biggest events of the tournament – the classic rivalry between the teams of India and Pakistan. The highly anticipated match will be held on June 9 at the new Nassau International Cricket Stadium. Bookmaker Mostbet will cover the tournament, providing a great opportunity for cricket fans to profit from
Construction on the 34,000-seat temporary stadium at Eisenhower Park is moving forward, and organizers are hopeful that the entire project will be completed on schedule despite the unprecedented scale of the project. For the first time in history, the cricket World Cup will be held in the United States – a country where the sport has not yet gained as much popularity as South Asia.
Unique modular construction
A temporary stadium in New York will serve as a model for a new way of organizing major sporting events. Its stands were specially designed and built for reuse after the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas in 2023. Thanks to their modular construction, they can be quickly disassembled, transported, and reassembled in New York.
The cricket ground also has an unusual design. It was modeled on the famous backdrop in Adelaide and developed in advance in Florida under the guidance of experienced professionals. In early May, this carefully constructed field was loaded onto special transport platforms and brought by road to New York for final installation on the field. Completion of the installation of the stadium is scheduled for the following week before the start of the tournament.
Record Investment and Happiness
According to Forbes, the construction and equipment of the temporary stadium in New York alone cost the organizers about 30 million dollars. Such high costs are explained by the desire to build a truly impressive, comfortable, and modern stadium ready to host world-class games. Additional funds were invested in the construction of a special air conditioning system, which allows maintaining the appropriate microclimate both in the field and in the fields of players and spectators in the hot summer conditions of New York.
The excitement surrounding the upcoming Cricket World Cup, especially the India-Pakistan match, is so great that ticket prices at popular resale sites are astronomically high – up to $10,000-$15,000 for a good seat! Even the cheapest tickets to this great show are not budget-friendly – their cost starts at $175.
However, the organizers are sure that even such high prices will not dampen the interest of passionate fans. In and around New York, there are billions of South Asian immigrants whose first cult sport is cricket. The excitement is also fueled by the global popularity of the tournament and the intense sporting rivalry between India and Pakistan on the cricket field.
Favorites and Tricks
The current T20 world champion is the England team, who surprisingly defeated Pakistan in the final in Melbourne in 2022. However, defending the title of “Three Lions” will be a big challenge without its former star Ben Stokes, who has decided to focus exclusively. in long format cricket. His departure weakened the team and required a major overhaul with significant renewal.
Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, will try to finally take revenge on their arch-rivals India and regain the seat of cricket after failing in a series of recent major tournaments. However, before the tournament, the South Asian team overcame a series of internal turmoil – the resignation of former captain Shahin Afridi, a number of high-profile scandals, and problems with the status of key players. Will the “blue and gold” team be able to break the black line?
Meanwhile, India have arrived in the USA with ulterior motives and are eager to reclaim the title of the strongest T20 cricket team in the world. However, questions over the immediate future of their senior leaders Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and some doubts about the proper form of other key players such as Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mohammed Siraj, are worrying the cricketing nation.
However, the Australian team looks very formidable and balanced. Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, and young all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk shone brightly in the last season of the Indian Premier League. Although the final schedule of the club’s biggest tournament was not easy for veteran fast bowler Mitchell Starc. But all in all, the Australians have an amazing line-up, they are eager to finally end their long “starvation” in T20 cricket, and they could be aiming for a cup.
And of course, attention is drawn to the England team with its young stars such as Harry Brook and Will Smeed, who will try to show that they can defend the title in 2024.
Wide Geography of Competition
Apart from New York, the T20 World Cup matches will be held in Lauderhill (Florida) and Dallas. A total of 16 games are scheduled. The final will be held on June 29 in Barbados.
The tournament format includes a group stage with four quintets of teams. The best two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 play-offs, after which the semi-finals and finals will be determined.
The T20 Cricket World Cup will not only be a major sporting event but will also be a true celebration for the many South Asian diaspora in the USA. The first game for billions of people will be shown in the New World for the first time.
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