T20 W’cup officials confident of ‘world-class’ New York venue
NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — Officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and organisers of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup matches in the United States said they were confident that the drop-in turf pitches installed at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will play up to mark.
Four drop-in turf pitches are now in place at the 34,000seat temporary stadium in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, east of Manhattan, that is set to host eight World Cup matches, including a spicy contest between political and sporting rivals, India and Pakistan, on June 9.
Chris Tetley, head of events at the ICC, hailed the work that has taken place to erect the facility, which includes a fullsized outfield with dimensions of 75 yards east and west, and 67 yards north and south.
“We are around about as big as The Gabba [in Australia], or The Oval [in England], or Wankhede Stadium [in India] in terms of playing area,” he said.
The site of the stadium will be restored to a municipally accessible park when the tournament ends, but Tetley said the legacy benefit will be a “world-class international playing facility with drainage and irrigation” for the cricket-playing community in the area.
Six other drop-in turf pitches have also been installed in nearby practice facilities.
Adelaide Oval pitch curator Damian Hough was given the responsibility of developing the pitches for the facility in Australia and transporting them to the venue via the American state of Florida.
“Two and a half weeks out from the first game, we’re very happy and have nothing to worry about,” said Hough.
A handful of the sport’s icons, including former West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose, and a galaxy of New York sports stars joined retired Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt for first look at the venue on Wednesday.
Joining Bolt in the special preview were World Cupbound United States Captain Monank Patel and his teammate Corey Anderson, the former New Zealand all-rounder, former Pakistan Captain Shoaib Malik and former England pacer Liam Plunkett.
Also present were former New York Knicks basketballer John Starks, former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, and former Major League Baseball pitcher Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colón.
The World Cup matches in the United States are also to be played in the cities of Dallas in the state of Texas, and Lauderhill in Florida.
The United States are co-hosts with the Caribbean for the global showpiece, which opens on June 1 and ends with the final on June 29 in Barbados.