The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan at a temporary stadium near New York will be the highlight of the initial phase of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The complete schedule is expected to be finalized today by the International Cricket Council and local organizers.

Those countries will be among 10 teams who play all their opening group-stage games in the USA, who are co-hosting the tournament with the West Indies, as organisers hope to tap in to America’s large, cricket-loving expat communities.

There may be further modifications to the timetable, but both England and Australia are set to compete in all of their group matches in the Caribbean. Sources suggest that England’s games, both in their initial five-team group and in the Super 8 round if they advance, will take place in the popular tourist destinations of Antigua, Barbados, and St Lucia. However, the Australian team will also play at other venues in the region, including St Vincent, Guyana, and Trinidad.

Inspectors from the International Cricket Council (ICC) have completed their visits to Caribbean venues over the past two weeks, concluding in Guyana this week. While they have identified the need for further improvements and expansion, they have not discovered any major issues. The location for the final match has yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to take place in Barbados, which has previously hosted the finals for the 2007 50-over World Cup and the 2010 T20 event.

The United States has announced that they will utilize three locations for the upcoming tournament: Central Broward Park in Florida, Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, and Eisenhower Park on Long Island, approximately 25 miles away from downtown Manhattan. The first two venues are specifically designed for cricket, while a temporary stadium with a capacity of 34,000 will be built in New York. This city has a significant population of over 711,000 Indian residents and around 100,000 individuals with Pakistani heritage, according to recent census information.

The time difference between New York and New Delhi is 10.5 hours. As a result, organizers have decided to schedule certain games, specifically those involving India, with morning start times in order to cater to Indian television viewers.

England are defending champions having won the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, beating Pakistan in the final. They are currently on a white-ball tour of the West Indies and have played in both Antigua and Barbados, giving them a useful insight into conditions they will face when they return in June. They have not played in St Lucia since 2019.

Source: theguardian.com