Cricket West Indies (CWI) is planning to organise more international cricket matches in Florida in near future as India is likely to play two T20Is in Florida during their next year’s tour in West Indies.
CWI has a long-term plan to organise at least two T20is in North America every year until 2022. Till the date, USA has only international cricket ground which is Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground (Lauderhill, Florida).
Also read: Dale Steyn Announces The Date Of His ODI and T20I Retirement
Apart from planning to organise more international cricket matches in the USA, CWI is also keen to spread the game in Canada and some other popular native parts.
CWI CEO Johnny Grave told to ESPNcricinfo, “There’s full board support as part of our strategic plan over the next five years to bring regular games into the Americas. So not always talking about USA, we’re talking about Canada and other parts to try to grow the sport. The whole ICC strategic plan is around growing the game and we’re huge advocates of Associate cricket.”
Till the date, eight T20Is have been played at Florida, since its opening from May 2010. Last time, when India had toured in the Caribbean in 2016, they travelled to Florida to play two T20Is against West Indies where West Indies won by 1 run in the first game and the second game was washed out in rain.
According to the FTP schedule, India will tour in West Indies after the completion of 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England. CWI is planning to hold two T20Is again in Florida during that Indian tour.
Also read: BCCI announces the women’s squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour
The FTP schedule also reveals that New Zealand (2020), South Africa (2020) and Pakistan (2021) will travel to play in the USA during their respective Caribbean tours while India has a plan to re-visit in 2022.
During the last time in 2016, when India travelled in Florida to play two T20Is against West Indies, the matches started at 10:30 am local time under the heat. Grave said that they have to discuss with sponsors and broadcast partners to set a perfect time to organise the T20Is.
Grave said on that, “That would be our aim. Clearly we have to discuss that with sponsors and broadcast partners, but realistically when you’re playing India in the Caribbean you have to play either very late at night or very early in the day. If you’re playing India, the passion of the India fans, they’ll turn up whether you play at 11am or 9pm at night.”
In this year, Bangladesh played two T20Is in Florida when they travelled in West Indies for the full series.
