Many were skeptical when the ICC proposed the idea of hosting the T20 World Cup in the USA. The country where cricket has been played since the early 1700s had moved away from it for more than a century and had seen other sports like Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Tennis, and Football take over. But, in the hunt to make cricket bigger, the ICC went after the biggest market in the world.
The decision to go there was prompted by an up-and-rising USA cricket team and a major investment that would come its way if the sport made it big in America. The ICC decided the best way to increase the popularity of cricket was to bring the shortest and most electric format, T20, to the shores of the USA.
Poor management by ICC
All was on track. The big-earning India vs Pakistan match was scheduled to be held in New York, and fans had already expressed their excitement. But, amid all this, the ICC’s shoddy preparation for the event was coming out. The Nassau Stadium, where three of India’s four matches were to be held, wasn’t constructed even one month before the T20 World Cup started.
The stadium cost Rs 250 crore ($30 million) to make and was supposed to be dismantled as soon as the event was over. The pitches were imported from Adelaide, and the stands were temporary. Tickets cost as much as Rs 8.3 lakh, and teams were complaining about poor facilities. The Indian head coach labeled the experience as ‘practicing in a park’.
All of this could have been forgotten, given that it was the first major cricket event being held outside of a cricketing nation. The ICC had all their hopes pinned on Indi, the team with a billion followers. They ensured to schedule matches to the convenience of the Indian audience and ensured the Rohit Sharma-led wouldn’t travel much during their stay in America.
The dangerous Nassau Stadium pitch
On June 1, Team India finally played their first match, although it was a warm-up game. But, to everyone’s surprise, the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium wasn’t great. It had an inconsistent bounce and was doing tricks from ball one. However, the outfield was much worse, with balls failing to reach the boundary. Despite all this, India scored 182 runs against a weak Bangladesh side.
Everyone assumed it’d get better once the T20 World Cup officially got underway. We have seen four matches being played in the USA, and the average first-inning score so far is just 118. Cricket was supposed to be a festival that new fans enjoyed. Sixes and fours, super overs, and great fielding were things that would win the American crowd over. Instead, we are seeing ‘test match pitches’ being pulled out and teams bundling out for under 100.
The Nassau Stadium, where India vs Pakistan will happen on June 9, has been a graveyard for batters. Sri Lanka skittled out for just 77, their lowest ever T20I score three days ago at the venue, and Ireland faced India there yesterday, managing just 97 runs. Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant were among many who’d taken body blows on the dangerous pitch. Rohit even had to retire hurt to ensure no further harm was caused.
T20 World Cup
Where did it all go wrong?
The focus, which should have been on pitches and facilities, was shifted towards money-making. The ICC was busy setting high prices for India’s matches instead of catering to the wants of the public. Why would someone spend $900 (Rs 75000) for an India match on a Monday at 10:30 AM?
What’s the point of converting a public park into a stadium for 15 days and spending Rs 250 crore if you can’t hold any matches in it in the future? Is there any purpose to holding home the USA’s matches at 10:30 in the morning? Was any attempt made to make sure the American audience came to watch the matches?
One can’t even go into how USA Cricket is actually run. A board that has been suspended twice (2007 and 2015) and expelled in the past by the ICC in 2017. Many have alleged that the board will get expelled again soon after the T20 World Cup comes to an end due to corruption and a lack of transparency.
Where did the ICC go wrong? It seems to be everywhere.
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