Cricket

Cricket's Olympic Return Faces Venue Challenges, May Move Outside Los AngelesCricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has hit a snag, with organizers struggling to find a suitable venue within the city limits. LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman announced that if a viable location in Los Angeles cannot be secured, the sport may be staged outside the city.Wasserman emphasized the need for a large footprint to accommodate cricket's requirements. He stated that organizers are exploring all options to find the best possible venue that will maximize the sport's success.Recent reports suggest that New York is a potential candidate to host cricket at Nassau County Stadium on Long Island. The venue successfully hosted matches during the 2022 T20 Cricket World Cup, impressing Olympic officials.Staging cricket in New York would also enhance its commercial appeal, as daytime matches would coincide with prime time in major cricket markets like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.LA28 has already decided to relocate softball and canoe slalom to Oklahoma, demonstrating their willingness to move events outside of California.The International Olympic Committee's coordination commission is currently visiting Los Angeles to assess the city's preparations for the 2028 Games. The commission will provide feedback and recommendations to help organizers finalize venue plans.Cricket's inclusion in the Olympics marks a significant milestone for the sport, which last appeared at the Games in 1900. Its return is expected to generate excitement and attract a global audience.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its pitch ratings for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, revealing that the surfaces for two matches in New York and the semi-final in Trinidad were deemed "unsatisfactory."In New York's Nassau County Stadium, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 77 against South Africa, while Ireland was dismissed for 96 by India. The uneven bounce caused several players to suffer body blows, including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Harry Tector.Former England captain Michael Vaughan labeled the New York pitch "shocking," while Andy Flower described it as "bordering on dangerous." The ICC acknowledged the substandard conditions and attributed them to the short turnaround time between matches.Remedial work was carried out, and the surfaces for subsequent fixtures in New York were rated as "satisfactory." However, the semi-final pitch at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba also received an "unsatisfactory" rating.Afghanistan was bowled out for a mere 56 on the surface, with some deliveries rolling along the ground and others rearing up from similar spots. Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that it was not a suitable pitch for a semi-final.Overall, the surfaces at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy were challenging, producing several low scores. Even West Indies, who defended 149 against New Zealand, struggled at one point, tottering at 30 for 5.The ICC rates pitches on a scale from "very good" to "unfit." The surface at Providence for the India vs England semi-final was rated "satisfactory," while the Kensington Oval deck for the final between India and South Africa was rated as "very good."The ICC was generally satisfied with the state of the outfields, with only New York and Guyana receiving "satisfactory" ratings.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to release official ratings for the pitch and outfield conditions of the 54 matches played during the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, despite the tournament concluding over seven weeks ago.Particular scrutiny surrounds the eight matches held at the Nassau County ground in New York state. The fresh drop-in pitches, prepared by Adelaide curator Damian Hough, resulted in an average first innings score of just 107.6 runs across the eight games played at this venue.The ratings for the matches held in the West Indies are also awaited, but the focus remains on the performance of the pitches at the Nassau County ground. The ICC website, which provides ratings for pitch and outfield conditions, appears to have neglected updating this information since May 31, 2024, for both men's and women's international matches.The cricket venue in New York faced severe criticism from around the globe due to its unpredictable bounce and sluggish outfield. These conditions made run-scoring a challenging task, with even modest totals of 120 proving to be difficult to chase down.The delay in updating pitch and outfield ratings on the ICC website, now spanning 46 days, is unusual given that during the 50-over World Cup in India, such assessments were typically posted within a week of a match's conclusion.The match referees for the eight matches in New York were Ranjan Madugalle (3 games), David Boon (3 games), Jeff Crowe, and Richie Richardson. Given the rating categories of very good, good, satisfactory, average, and below average, it's likely that New York will receive an average or below average rating for both the pitch and outfield if assessed fairly.With cricket being included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the ICC is eager to avoid any negative findings regarding pitch quality during the global event in the US. Over the next four years, the ICC will need to develop the necessary sporting infrastructure to support cricket's Olympic debut, as New York's performance did not provide a strong example for the sport's entry into the Games.

It was a balmy June evening in 2024 when the cricketing world held its breath in anticipation. The stage was set, the lights were bright, and the air was thick with tension as India and Pakistan, the age-old rivals, prepared...

Ireland will face a formidable challenge when they take on Canada in the T20 World Cup on June 6 in New York. The Irish team, led by Andy Balbirnie, will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing loss to India, while Canada will be looking to build on their impressive performance against the United States.Ireland has a wealth of experience in the T20 World Cup, having participated in eight tournaments. However, they have struggled to make a significant impact, reaching the 'Super 8' only once in 2009. Balbirnie and captain Stirling, who have a combined experience of over 250 T20Is, will be crucial to Ireland's hopes of success.Canada, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer to the T20 World Cup. They will be making their debut in the tournament and will be looking to make a statement. Canada has a strong batting lineup led by Navneet Dhaliwal, who was a key player in their victory over Ireland in the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier.The match between Ireland and Canada promises to be a close and exciting contest. Ireland will be favored due to their experience and quality, but Canada has shown that they are capable of upsetting the odds.

T20 World Cup 2024: Ponting Advises Lowering Expectations on ScoresFormer Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged teams and batters to adjust their expectations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, citing the likelihood of slower pitches in the West Indies. Ponting believes that the high-scoring totals witnessed in the recent IPL 2024 may not be replicated in the World Cup, especially during the latter stages.Ponting's comments stem from the recent low-scoring match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in New York, where Sri Lanka was bowled out for 77. The match featured a high number of dot balls, highlighting the challenges batters may face on the drop-in pitches used at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.Ponting emphasized that the day-time conditions in New York contributed to the ball swinging and seaming, making it difficult for batters to score freely. He advised teams to adjust their strategies and lower their expectations on scores, particularly in the early stages of the tournament.The ICC's decision to build a cricket stadium from scratch in New York and install drop-in pitches has raised concerns about the playing conditions. Head curator Damian Hough has stated his intention to create a balanced contest between bat and ball, which may result in slower pitches.Ponting believes that the pitches in the West Indies, which will host the Super Eights and knockout matches, could also become slower towards the end of the tournament. He noted that the lack of recent cricket on many of the Caribbean venues may have affected the preparation of the wickets.India captain Rohit Sharma echoed Ponting's sentiments, acknowledging that the New York pitch did not appear conducive to high scores. He emphasized the need for teams to adapt quickly and adjust their game plans accordingly.Ponting's advice serves as a reminder that the T20 World Cup 2024 will present different challenges compared to the high-scoring IPL. Teams and batters will need to adjust their expectations and strategies to succeed in the tournament's unique conditions.

Virat Kohli, the iconic Indian cricketer, is currently in the United States for the ICC T20 World Cup, and his security has been a top priority for the tournament organizers. The heightened security measures come in response to credible threats from militant organizations.In a video circulating on social media, Kohli can be seen arriving at the ground surrounded by officials and armed guards. The local authorities in and around New York have implemented enhanced security measures, particularly for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.New York Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the New York State Police to increase law enforcement presence, conduct advanced surveillance, and implement thorough screening processes. "Public safety is my top priority," she said. "We are committed to ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience."During India's warm-up match against Bangladesh in New York, a fan breached security and ran towards captain Rohit Sharma. The fan was quickly apprehended by security officials.India will begin their World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York. They will then face Pakistan and the USA at the same venue before concluding their group stage with a match against Canada in Florida.The United States and the Caribbean islands (West Indies) are co-hosting the tournament, which runs from June 2 to 29.

Security Heightened for India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Match in New YorkIn response to reported threats, security measures will be significantly enhanced at the Eisenhower Park stadium in New York for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The governor's office has issued a statement assuring that the situation is being closely monitored and that there is currently no credible public safety threat.The Eisenhower Park stadium, located approximately 25 miles east of Manhattan, will host eight matches from June 3 to June 12, including the high-profile India-Pakistan contest. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has emphasized that her administration has been collaborating with law enforcement agencies for months to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of these games."I have directed the New York State Police to implement elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance, and thorough screening processes," Governor Hochul stated. "Public safety is my top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that the Cricket World Cup is a safe and enjoyable experience for all."While the authorities have not yet found any corroborative evidence to support the reported threat, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has assured that security will be "robust" throughout the tournament, including at the New York venue. An ICC spokesperson emphasized, "The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority. We have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place. We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event."India will play four matches in New York, including their first against Canada (June 5), the highly anticipated clash with Pakistan, and a meeting with the USA on June 12. They are also scheduled to play a warm-up game against Bangladesh there. The Indian team arrived in the US on Tuesday and has begun training, although Virat Kohli is yet to join the squad after being granted some time off.Earlier this month, the ICC and Cricket West Indies, who will co-host the World Cup along with the US, expressed confidence that they are taking every possible measure to ensure the safety of fans and players.