With the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup about to get underway on Saturday, a new stadium in Long Island, New York hosts its inaugural game.
The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium finished its construction this month with the temporary purpose of hosting matches for this tournament. However, when terror group ISIS-K made a global threat against the stadium, state government officials had to respond accordingly.
“We take every threat seriously. There are the same procedures for every threat. To that end, we have taken many, many precautions as well as making sure that the stadium and the surrounding Eisenhower Park are safe.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman
While these precautions haven’t been explicitly revealed, Nassau County is coordinating with law enforcement and homeland security agencies on the local and federal level to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance.
A safe venue would only mean a better experience for fans who are arriving in Long Island from all over the world. Even celebrities such as Jamaican track star Usain Bolt and New York Knicks icon John Starks took part in checking out the stadium before it opens to the general public.
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium plays host to a total of eight matches. Among those affairs is a longstanding rivalry matchup between India and Pakistan on June 9. The last time these two teams met in the T20 tournament was back in 2022 when India won by four wickets.
The tournament officially starts on June 1 but India’s first matchup isn’t until June 5 against Ireland. The top two teams in each group will be placed into two groups of four to comprise the Super 8 stage of the tournament. The ensuing top two in those groups advance to the knockout stage which includes the semi-finals and final. Follow @DiyaTV for coverage and updates on all the action.