In a remarkable feat spanning more than 22,500 kilometres, a unique “drop-in” pitch has completed its journey from Adelaide to Florida, arriving at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium just in time for the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan T20 World Cup clash scheduled for June.
Recently, a captivating video shared by a user showcased the meticulous process of installing the pitch at the New York Stadium, laying the groundwork for the tournament’s headline match. Merely a fortnight ago, the stadium’s outfield was scarcely recognizable, but the viral footage reveals significant progress, with the outfield now nearly fully laid.
How are drop-in pitches installed in a cricket field?
Watch the latest video of Nassau County Stadium, NY, which will host the T20 World Cup 2024 and IND vs. PAK. pic.twitter.com/EuGAqzuEy7
— Baljeet Singh (@ImTheBaljeet) May 6, 2024
The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the tournament’s ninth edition, is set to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 1 to 29, 2024. This marks the first occasion matches will be played in the United States, expanding the tournament’s footprint beyond traditional cricketing nations. England, the defending champions, triumphed over Pakistan in the final of the previous edition.
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With a record 20 teams participating, including newcomers Canada, Uganda, and the host nation United States, the competition promises heightened intensity. The tournament features a format where the 20 qualifying teams are divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Super 8 round.
From there, the journey to the knockout stage, comprising two semi-finals and a final, will determine the eventual champion. Qualification for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup involved automatic berths for the top eight teams from the 2022 tournament and the host nations. The next two spots were awarded to the highest-ranked teams in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings as of November 14, 2022.
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The remaining eight spots were decided through regional qualifiers, with two teams each from Africa, Asia, and Europe, along with one team each from the Americas and East Asia-Pacific. The anticipation builds as cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on the freshly laid pitch in Florida. As excitement mounts for this thrilling encounter on American-Caribbean soil, the stage is set for a spectacle that transcends borders and unites cricket fans worldwide.
