The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 discussion

[FearlessRoar]

‘Controlled Funding’ Put In Place For USA Cricket Ahead Of Home T20 World Cup​

USA Cricket avoided calls for suspension, but its funding is being 'controlled' by the sport's governing body, according to sources, amid ongoing turmoil ahead of co-hosting June's T20 World Cup.

At last month's International Cricket Council quarterly meetings, the continual saga engulfing American cricket was debated and an update of the T20 World Cup was provided, sources present told me.

Familiar warring has rocked USA Cricket with a spate of resignations while chief executive Dr. Noor Murad had his contract terminated last month. USA Cricket announced last week that it had starting searching for Murad's replacement.

There were calls from several directors on the ICC board to suspend USA Cricket, with even one calling for an expulsion, according to sources. But with a historic T20 World Cup on the horizon - with matches to be played in New York, Dallas and Lauderhill - USA Cricket has survived, but its funding is being controlled by the ICC, who make payments on its behalf (using USA's share of the ICC's money).

The ICC declined to comment.

It is a return to a chaotic American cricket scene after former governing body USA Cricket Association was expelled in 2017 capping a turbulent period marked by three suspensions.

The newly formed USA Cricket had started promisingly under the high-profile leadership of Paraag Marathe, the long-time San Francisco 49ers senior administrator, and former ICC chief operating officer Iain Higgins. But both departed in contentious circumstances in recent years and upheavel has ensued ever since.

It comes at a pivotal juncture ahead of the U.S. co-hosting cricket's biggest event of the year. But USA Cricket has had limited role in the organization and promotion of the T20 World Cup. That is almost unprecedented for a host nation, but seen as necessary given the circumstances.

T20 Incorporated, the entity established in the U.S. to deliver the event, is believed to have kept USA Cricket in the loop over matters regarding the event. T20 Inc. have been under pressure with a modular cricket stadium in New York still amid construction ahead of the World Cup starting on June 1.

The 34,000-seat Nassau County Stadium in Eisenhower Park, 30 miles east of Manhattan, is expected to cost $30 million, according to sources.

The turbulence of USA Cricket has raised eyebrows among senior administrators from other countries, some of who have long cried over "preferential treatment" granted to U.S. which is deemed a target market by the ICC.

According to the ICC, there are already 50 million cricket fans entrenched in the world's biggest sports market, with the U.S. boasting growing South Asian communities.

"What type of growth can cricket really have in the grassroots in the U.S. and proper development given the governing body (USA Cricket) is in such a mess?" an ICC board director told me.

USA Cricket hopes a new chief executive might stabilize the situation. “The board is launching this search for a dynamic and experienced leader to bring forward the next chapter of our organization,” USA Cricket chair Venu Pisike said. "The candidate’s experience and expertise in this area will be crucial to filling this incredibly important role at a critical time for us.”

The T20 World Cup opens with a clash between U.S. and Canada - cricket's oldest rivalry - on June 1 in Dallas.

‘Controlled Funding’ Put In Place For USA Cricket Ahead Of Home T20 World Cup

USA Cricket avoided calls for suspension, but its funding is being 'controlled' by the sport's governing body ahead of co-hosting June's T20 World Cup.

www.forbes.com

 

[MenInG]

ICC announce Match Officials for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
Media Release
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the 26 match officials for the first round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies.

Twenty umpires and six match referees will officiate the ninth edition of the event, which will see 20 teams playing 55 matches over 28 days, across nine locations in the biggest ICC T20 World Cup ever.

The experienced group of umpires includes the 2023 winner of the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year at the annual ICC Awards, Richard Illingworth, as well as Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel, who were appointed for the final of the 2022 edition at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.

It is an exciting time for Jayaraman Madanagopal, Sam Nogajski, Allahudien Paleker, Rashid Riaz and Asif Yaqoob, who will make their senior men’s event debuts.

The match referees’ team sees the return of Ranjan Madugalle, who oversaw the 2022 Final and also features the format’s most capped referee, Jeff Crowe, with 175 T20Is and Andrew Pycroft, who is one match away from 150 T20Is.

The Match Officials at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup are:

Umpires: Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Allahudien Paleker, Richard Kettleborough, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, Ahsan Raza, Rashid Riaz, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Shahid Saikat, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson and Asif Yaqoob.

Match referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.

ICC General Manager – Cricket, Wasim Khan, said: “We are pleased to announce our team of match referees and umpires for the historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

“Within the selected cohort, we have a compliment of experienced match officials and other high performing members who have been recognized for their strong and consistent performances. The throughput from the pathway programme will continue to see the development and emergence of high-quality match officials across the game.

“With 20 teams and 55 matches played over 28 days, this will be the biggest T20 World Cup ever and we are proud of the team we have assembled. We are confident that our officials will perform strongly.

“We wish them all the best of luck for what promises to be a very exciting tournament.”

ICC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Share your early predictions for the 2024 World Cup below:

Predicted Winners:
Runners-up:
Expected Player of the Tournament:
Top Batter:
Top Bowler:
Flop player:

Mine will be:
Australia
England
Travis Head
Virat Kohli
Bumrah
Rohit Sharma

 

[RidiculousMan]

Share your early predictions for the 2024 World Cup below:

Predicted Winners:
Runners-up:
Expected Player of the Tournament:
Top Batter:
Top Bowler:
Flop player:

Mine will be:
Australia
England
Travis Head
Virat Kohli
Bumrah
Rohit Sharma

Pakistan
India
Shadab Khan
Babar Azam
Shaheen Afridi
Sky

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan
India
Shadab Khan
Babar Azam
Shaheen Afridi
Sky

Well, that is a bold claim if it is not written in a sarcastic way. Nice anyways

 

[BouncerGuy]

If India qualifies for the knockout stage of the men’s T20 World Cup, they will play the second semi-final on June 27 in Providence, Guyana. This is likely due to the match timings, with the first semi-final in Tarouba, Trinidad being a night game and the Guyana semi-final starting at a more TV-friendly time in India.

The final will be a day game in Bridgetown, Barbados. There will be no reserve day for the second semi-final, but extra time has been allotted to ensure a finish in case of weather interruptions. This is due to the tournament schedule allowing no time for a reserve day.

In semi-finals and finals at ICC events, a decisive result can only be achieved if both teams have batted for at least ten overs each. This rule differs from most T20 games, where the team batting second only needs to bat for five overs for a result in shortened games. This was also the case for the semi-finals and final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.​

 

[FearlessRoar]

As per media reports, Pakistan and England are likely to miss their warm-up matches for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 set to take place in the USA and West Indies next month. This decision stems from both teams gearing up for a crucial four-match T20I series, slated to kick off on May 22nd.

Additionally, BCCI has put forth a request for India’s warm-up game to be held in New York, aligning with the team's base.

Initially, the ICC and Cricket West Indies (CWI) had proposed Florida as the venue. However, Indian players, dealing with fatigue from extensive travel and the rigorous Indian Premier League (IPL), are hesitant about the additional trip from New York to Florida and back.

The ICC will soon announce the schedule for these matches. Given that the multi-team tournament is set for June, it is anticipated that the warm-up fixtures will take place around May 25th and 26th.

 

[BouncerGuy]

How the teams qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

The biggest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in history will include more teams and more matches than ever before.

For the first time, 20 nations will take to the stage and battle for world glory in the United States and West Indies across 55 matches and four weeks of thrilling action.

You may be familiar with the teams but here is a refresher on how they got here.

The hosts

West Indies and USA earned automatic entry as the host nations, with the latter set to play in the tournament for the first time.

Two-time winners West Indies will host the competition for the second time after staging the 2010 showpiece which saw England beat Australia in the final.

Just as in 2010, the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, will host this year’s final.

Top eight from 2022

The top eight teams from the last ICC Men’s T20 World Cup all ensured automatic qualification to the tournament’s ninth edition.

In Australia, England recorded their second triumph as Ben Stokes steered his side to victory with the bat after Player of the Tournament Sam Curran helped restrict runners-up Pakistan to 137 in the final.

Beaten semi-finalists India and New Zealand also secured entry for 2024. India will be looking to build on their 50-over triumph last year while the Black Caps will be hoping to add their name to the trophy for the first time.

The sides which finished third and fourth in the Super 12 groups also achieved qualification. Those four teams are former winners Australia and Sri Lanka, two-time semi-finalists South Africa, and Netherlands, who achieved their best T20 World Cup finish last time round.

Team rankings

Afghanistan and Bangladesh are included due to their status as the next two highest teams in the T20I rankings.

The Tigers came close to a couple of shock victories last time out and will be hoping to build on that, while the likes of Rashid Khan and Qais Ahmad will be tapping into their experiences in the US franchise tournament, Major League Cricket, to aid their team’s cause.

The qualifiers

The remaining eight spots were determined by regional qualifiers with Ireland and Scotland coming through the European section.

Scotland hosted the regional finals in July 2023 and powered through the group stages unbeaten, joined by Ireland thanks in no small part to a crucial seven run victory over Italy.

The East Asia-Pacific qualifiers took place at the same time and Papua New Guinea also recorded a perfect run to reach their second T20 World Cup.

Canada emerged from the Americas qualifier, sneaking past Bermuda on net run rate to reach the main event for the first time.

Nepal and Oman qualified in Asia, defeating UAE and Bahrain respectively in the last four before sharing a thrilling final which Oman claimed after a Super Over.

The final country to secure their place in the 20-team line-up was Uganda. The Cricket Cranes usurped regional powerhouse Zimbabwe for their first-ever T20I win over a full-member team en route to their first T20 World Cup.

Namibia were the other side to qualify from the Africa Qualifier, having previously played in the 2021 and 2022 editions

ICC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Shahid Saikat will become the first Bangladeshi umpire to officiate at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when he stands in the tournament opener between USA and Canada.

Saikat, 47, took charge of five matches at last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and has also been on the panel at two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018.

The trailblazing official will be joined in the middle on the opening night by Richard Illingworth, who won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year for the third time in 2023 and took charge of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia last year.

Richie Richardson will be the match referee in Dallas, with Sam Nogajski as TV umpire and Langton Rusere in place as fourth umpire.

Nogajski is one of five umpires making their senior men’s tournament debut in June, with Rashid Riaz to make his first appearance in the second match of the tournament, between Papua New Guinea and West Indies in Guyana. That match will also mark a milestone for match referee Andy Pycroft, who will bring up his 150th T20I.

Jayaraman Madanagopal’s debut will be later that day when Namibia and Oman go head-to-head in Barbados.

The first of Allahudien Paleker’s four on-field group games will be between USA and Pakistan, while fellow debutant Asif Yaqoob will line up alongside Nitin Menon for England’s clash with Scotland.

Illingworth and Rodney Tucker will be the on-field umpires for the eagerly-awaited Group A clash between India and Pakistan on June 9.

Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Richard Kettleborough and Joel Wilson are among the other experienced officials returning for more World Cup action, with the knockout stage appointments to be announced at a later date.

Match Officials for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024:

Umpires: Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Allahudien Paleker, Richard Kettleborough, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, Ahsan Raza, Rashid Riaz, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Shahid Saikat, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson and Asif Yaqoob.

Match referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.

ICC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

History to be made at T20 World Cup as umpires named for tournament opener

The full list of match officials has been revealed for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA.
Shahid Saikat will make history for Bangladesh as he is set to officiate the first game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on 1 June between USA and Canada.

Saikat will become the first Bangladeshi umpire to officiate at the prestigious T20I men's event.

His experience includes officiating five matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, as well as serving on the panel for two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018.

Joining Saikat for the first match will be Richard Illingworth, the reigning and three-time winner of the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year.

Richie Richardson will be the match referee for the tournament opener, with Sam Nogajski named the TV umpire and Langton Rusere the fourth umpire.

In addition to Nogajski, four other officials will make their senior men’s tournament debuts next month – Rashid Riaz, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Allahudien Paleker and Asif Yaqoob.

Match Officials for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024:

Umpires: Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Allahudien Paleker, Richard Kettleborough, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, Ahsan Raza, Rashid Riaz, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Shahid Saikat, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson and Asif Yaqoob.

Match referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.

Source: ICC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

'$20000 per seat': India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match sparks controversy over ticket prices; Lalit Modi slams ICC

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has criticized the ICC for allegedly prioritizing profits over promoting the game in the USA. Modi claims that tickets for the marquee clash at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York are being sold for as much as $20,000 (Rs 16,65,138) per seat in the Diamond Club section.

"Shocked to learn that ICC is selling tickets for Diamond Club at $20000 per seat for the #indvspak WC game. The WC in the US is for game expansion & fan engagement, not a means to make profits on gate collections. $2750 for a ticket It’s just #notcricket #intlcouncilofcrooks,” Modi tweeted.

According to the ICC, ticket prices for the India-Pakistan match range from $300 (now sold out) to $10,000. A recent USA Today report further claimed that resale prices for these tickets have soared.

'$20000 per seat': India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match sparks controversy over ticket prices; Lalit Modi slams ICC | Cricket News - Times of India

Cricket News: The T20 World Cup 2024 will feature a thrilling India-Pakistan Group A match on June 9, in New York. The match is expected to be a highlight of the to

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

2023-J2582

Senate Resolution No. 2582

BY: Senator THOMAS

COMMENDING the International Cricket Council upon the occasion of hosting the India vs. Pakistan Match during the historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on June 9, 2024

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the International Cricket Council upon the occasion of hosting the India vs. Pakistan Match during the historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium; and

WHEREAS, Dating back to the 17th century, cricket was introduced to North America through the English colonies, and the sport spread globally throughout the centuries; in the 21st century, cricket has grown immensely and introduced the Twenty20 format in 2003, which revolutionized the game with its fast-paced, three-hour matches; and

WHEREAS, The ICC has 25 members in the Asia region, including India and Pakistan, and is dedicated to expanding the sport’s footprint; the highly anticipated match between arch-rivals India vs. Pakistan will take place at the world class Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in front of a 34,000-capacity crowd; and

WHEREAS, In September of 2007, India triumphed over Pakistan in the final of the first-ever ICC World Twenty20 in Johannesburg, South Africa; as a testament to the sports growing popularity, the match drew a worldwide TV audience of over 400 million viewers; and

WHEREAS, This historic game served as the catalyst for the creation of the Indian Premier League (IPL) the following year, sparking the establishment of additional Twenty20 leagues globally; and

WHEREAS, Cementing cricket’s place in the global sports arena, the inaugural Men’s Twenty20 International took place in 2005; the sport has achieved a passionate fan base and the ICC strives to reach a remarkable level of engagement as these intense matches approach the world stage; and

WHEREAS, The evolution brought on by the high-stakes competition of Twenty20 leagues has transformed cricket into a year-round sport for modern cricketers; the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is renowned for its intensity and draws a global fanbase; and

WHEREAS, Matches between India and Pakistan are highly anticipated and widely viewed and the match at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is expected to be a highlight of the cricketing calendar, drawing attention and excitement from fans around the world; and

WHEREAS, Widely known as the Shaheens (Falcons) or Green Shirts, the Pakistan cricket team is one of the most successful and popular cricket teams in the world; established in 1952, the team has a rich history and has won a myriad of prestigious tournaments, such as the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1992, the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Governed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Pakistan cricket team produces remarkably talented cricketers, including Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and more recently, Babar Azam, this year’s team captain; their cricketing style being characterized by its unpredictability, flair, and passionate fan base, the team is renowned for its formidable fast bowlers, skilled spinners, and dynamic batsman; and

WHEREAS, Known as the Men in Blue, the India cricket team is widely recognized for their success and is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI); and

WHEREAS, Their first Test match dating back to 1932, the India cricket team has produced some of the finest cricketers and is known for their strong batting lineup, including players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and current stars such as Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma, the captain of the India cricket team; and

WHEREAS, Cementing India’s status in international cricket, achievements of the India cricket team include winning the ICC Cricket World Cup twice, first in 1983 and again in 2011, and winning the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013; and

WHEREAS, The India cricket team is known for their formidable bowling attack, with players that are fast bowlers and world-class spinners; and

WHEREAS, The success of the International Cricket Council is in direct correlation to the efforts of its leadership, and dedicated staff and volunteers, whose involvement are, and always have been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend the International Cricket Council upon the occasion of hosting the India vs. Pakistan Match during the historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on June 9, 2024; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to International Cricket Council.”

SOURCE: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/J2582

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Stadium of T20 World Cup opener hit by severe storm

The stadium which will host the opening match of the T20 World Cup in Dallas this weekend has been hit by severe weather, causing the cancellation of Tuesday's official warm-up match.

The United States and Bangladesh were due to meet at 16:30 BST at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas but the match has been called off because of the "conditions of the facilities".

Warnings for strong thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornados have been given for the area.

A spokesperson from the International Cricket Council said fencing and scaffolding at the venue had been affected but "nothing that materially impacts the staging" of the World Cup.

Severe weather killed at least 23 people over the weekend in the US, injuring hundreds of others and leaving a path of destruction.

Texas governor Greg Abbott said more than a third of counties were subject to a disaster declaration after extreme weather ploughed through the state.

There was further heavy rain overnight and winds up to 80mph while storm sirens sounded in the city of Dallas.

The opening match of the T20 World Cup between the US and Canada is due to take place in Dallas on Saturday, 1 June (01:30 Sunday BST).


BBC

 

[JaDed]

Yeah was a mess and flash floods etc, but Dallas bounces back shouldn’t be that hard

 

[BouncerGuy]

‘Crazy to me’: Rohit Sharma and Najmul Hossain Shanto marvel in New York stadium magic

Ahead of India and Bangladesh’s June 1 warm-up meeting at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Rohit Sharma have taken in the sights of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

June 3 will be the ground’s true day of destiny when it hosts its first match in the tournament proper, though cricket fans’ eyes will be transfixed on June 1 when the New York ground plays host to two heavyweights putting in some final work ahead of their respective campaigns.

Coming off a scratchy series defeat to the USA, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side will be desperate to put the pieces of a winning plan together, while it’s a vital, sole warm-up hitout for an India side yearning to lift the T20 World Cup trophy on June 29.

There’s a surreal feeling seeing the two star skippers of international cricket spin around in surprise at the new facility - one started and finished in just three months - set to play a starring role in hosting the biggest T20 World Cup ever staged.

Having only seen the facility through photos and various time lapses in the build-up, Najmul Hossain Shanto was floored seeing the stadium in person.

“It’s unbelievable. I think it’s crazy,” Shanto began.

“I mean we all saw on the internet there was nothing (three months ago). Now it looks like a proper stadium and feels great.

“The Eastern grandstand (in particular), I didn’t expect it to be like this. I think it’s almost a proper stadium. The ground itself looks very good. It’s a proper cricket ground.

“To be very honest I wasn’t expecting anything like this but we all followed on social media how the wicket looks like, how the ground would be, and we are very excited as to what is going to happen here.

“It feels very good and looks crazy to me.”

Seating up to 34,000 people, temporary stands designed by Populous were raced up, with turf brought in from LandTek Group, an organisation boasting successful projects with both New York Major League Baseball teams and the Inter Miami Major League Soccer team.

The drop-in turf square meanwhile was curated in Florida by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and head curator Damian Hough, driven on a 20-hour trip in several pieces before being moved into the centre.

Looking around at the stands and peering towards the centre square, a relaxed Rohit Sharma saluted those who pieced together the bold project.

“It looks beautiful. It's quite an open ground. When we come here and play our first game, I just can't wait to feel the atmosphere in the stadium," the India captain said.

“It's a decent capacity as well. Hopefully it's gonna be a good one.”

While enjoying a moment to take in the scenery, India must hit the ground running in the warm-up, with their first group game at the same venue on 8 June against Ireland.

“We’re looking to understand the conditions more importantly (before the tournament proper) as we haven’t been here before,” Rohit continued.

“(We will) try and make the most of the conditions, get used to what it’s going to be like on June 5 when we play our first game. It’s just about getting into that rhythm of getting the feel of the ground, pitch and stuff like that.”

“People in New York will be very interested in coming and watching the World Cup, with the World Cup happening for the first time here.

“I'm pretty sure all the fans across the various teams are quite excited and looking forward to this tournament. And also as players can't wait to get started.”

ICC

 

[FearlessRoar]

USA vs Canada World Cup Match Faces Weather Uncertainty

With less than 48 hours to go before the highly anticipated match, the weather conditions in Dallas, Texas, are causing concern. Four warm-up matches were scheduled in the city, but three were cancelled without a single ball being bowled due to inclement weather.

The situation is dire, with tornadoes and extreme winds recently knocking down a giant screen at the venue. The match is set for 7:30 pm local time on Sunday, but AccuWeather predicts a 21-24% chance of rain and a 39% chance of thunderstorms. Given the non-stop rain in Dallas, even a light shower could lead to match abandonment. Moreover, the US National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the city until Saturday, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the match.

 

[BouncerGuy]

World Cup cricket has officially arrived in the United States, with the historic opening match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 between USA and Canada at Grand Prairie Stadium set to open the ninth edition of the event today.

The final 24 hours ahead of the opening match in Texas saw cricket being beamed to new audiences across America like never before as the country prepares to co-host an ICC World Cup event for the first time.

Headlining the excitement, was a lighting projection show that featured all 20 captains of the largest ICC Men's T20 World Cup ever on to the Rockefeller Centre Building in New York City. Each of the captains from the four groups were featured above the busy streets of Manhattan on the facade of 30 Rockefeller.

Ahead of the NBA Finals Series, Bangladesh and India captains Rohit Sharma and Najmul Shanto were able to pick-up the famous Larry O'Brien Trophy as part of a collaboration with the league. Both captains were getting their first look at the 34,000 seat Nassau County International Stadium ahead of today's warm-up fixture at the same venue.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador Yuvraj Singh ensured Americans woke up to cricket, appearing on Good Morning America to invite new fans to come and see the world's best cricketers playing in the USA.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Babar Azam on Rockefeller

 

[Markhor]

The weather forecast in Guyana doesn't look promising.

 

[BouncerGuy]

How beautiful this stadium is. Can't wait for the June 6th. I am sure that it will be a full house here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1796603684513775900

 

[Major]

Usually, we would have soo much hype going around about an ICC tournament. Out of no where we find out about a tournament opener taking place. No opening ceremony. Some teams have still not reached USA. Only India had a warm up game. What is going on?

This is a very poorly planned and start to an ICC tournament, and it feels like some random series is being played.
Like there are about 20 teams playing, maybe ICC should had created some hype about this.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Usually, we would have soo much hype going around about an ICC tournament. Out of no where we find out about a tournament opener taking place. No opening ceremony. Some teams have still not reached USA. Only India had a warm up game. What is going on?

This is a very poorly planned and start to an ICC tournament, and it feels like some random series is being played.
Like there are about 20 teams playing, maybe ICC should had created some hype about this.

There was a short opening ceremony before the first match. Expected to be a bigger opening ceremony in the Caribbean before West Indies vs PNG.

All teams have played multiple warmups except PAK and England. All teams have reached Caribbean/USA

 

[BouncerGuy]

DO you like this opening ceremony of the ICC T20 World Cup?

No real flair this time IMO.

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[Chip32]

Who would've thought that there would be no hype for a tournament being held in a country where 90% of people don't even know the sport of cricket exists...

 

[IndoorCricket]

Really hope cricket clicks for US audience. T20 is a format where anyone can compete. Too big of a market to ignore

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will see the winners of the 20-team tournament earn at least $2.45 million, the highest prize money in the history of the tournament, along with the trophy that they will lift at Kensington Oval in Barbados on 29 June

The runners-up will receive at least $1.28 million, while the losing semi-finalists walk away with $787,500 each from the total, historic prize pot of $11.25 million.

The four teams that fail to make it out of the Super 8s will earn $382,500 each, while the teams placed ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th receive $247,500 each. Participants who finish 13th to 20th place will return $225,000.

And every team receives an additional $31,154 for each match they win barring the semi-finals and final.

The 55-match event will be played over 28 days, across nine venues in the West Indies and USA, making this the biggest ICC T20 World Cup ever.

The format of this year’s tournament will see 40 first round matches played before the top eight progress to the Super 8s. Four teams will then qualify for the semi-finals, which will be staged in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, ending with the final in Barbados where the 2024 men’s champions will be crowned.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “This event is historic in so many ways so it is fitting that the prize money for players reflects that. Hundreds of millions of fans around the world will be entertained by the players in what we’re hoping to be an Out of This World event.”

*All prize money is in US Dollars

 

[AAli98]

The only time an icc event gets going is when Pak needs favours of other teams to qualify..

 

[Major]

I find it a bit funny how the teams from developing nations are complaining. Sri lanka and pakistan are complaining about the travel time to practice, while even India complained about practicing in a park.

In developed countries, facilities are always A class, but the facilities are as such that they are made open to public, you dont get special treatment.

Traveling for practice taking 1+ hr is normal in these parts of the world, or having practice in public park aswell.

But it seems like, a few nations want to get pampered

 

[FearlessRoar]

Johnny Grave, the West Indies Cricket Board CEO, in an interview with an Indian media outlet, said that the schedule of the I ICC T20 World Cup 2024 was made keeping in mind India’s time zone:

“I think everyone accepts that the vast majority of revenues for all ICC events comes from one market,” Grave said. “Therefore it is really important that we find a balance between starting matches at prime time in India and for home fans. We have half the matches early for Star Sports and then we have gone as late as possible so they will start early in the morning in India, so they should still get a decent viewership.”

“We as hosts can focus on the local fans attending the evening games and the 10:30 morning games will allow us to get school kids to watch some World Cup cricket for free.”

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan players speaking about cricket in the USA, during an interview:

Shaheen Shah Afridi said:

"This is the first time the World Cup is happening in the USA, and it’s a new experience for us too. We have just arrived here for the first time. Few players have played here so we hope the event will go well. We are excited that cricket has arrived in the USA. Club cricket happens a lot here, but international cricket, and on top of that, the World Cup is happening. We are very excited.”

Mohammad Rizwan said:

“The World Cup is such an event that playing in this event is a proud moment for every player. In the last World Cup, we were runners-up, so those things are still in mind, where we lost that match, what we did right, and what we didn’t do well. The players who were playing at that time also remember those moments, that match was in our hands and where we let it slip away”

Naseem Shah said:

“We are excited, it’s a new country, new conditions. We played in the 2022 World Cup final. Playing well is a different thing, but when you take the trophy in your hand, the feeling is different.”

Azam Khan said:

“I am very happy that I have got this opportunity, I am playing in the USA. I never thought that there would ever be a cricket World Cup in the USA, but this country is so big and it is called the land of opportunity, so it is an opportunity for every player, no matter which country he is from, to come here and make a name for himself."

 

[mominsaigol]

The problem is unless USA team is filled with traditional Americans, filling ex cricketers into a USA team will never allow USA to become a cricketing nation.

Fans in USA have no god damn clue how the sport is played. Just look at the usa commentator, he's making comments like

" The batters should try to run in a straight line, and not run like snakes"

Or

" The keeper should take one glove off if he needs to pitch "

Or

" Bowlers shpuld not bowl knuckle balls as it slows deliveries down and it'll allow the batters to hit a home run, Knuckle ball is a dead pitch"

^^ each time he had to be corrected and the commentators were laughing at him lol.

USA and Canada can only be promoted if the locals themselves get interested in the sport but that's not gonna happen. Cricket is a very ancient sport and the cricketing nations so far are all nations linked to the British.

British= Started the sport.

India= Historically Indian subcontinental locals picked up the sport and called it gilly danda back in the 1800's.

Australia and Nz = Australians and NZ are just British prisoners who settled Into a new land and overtime developed a new accent ut cricketing roots existed.

West indies= British slave culture back in early days hence they picked it up.

SA= Mix of British and slave culture developing the sport.

Pakistan = again ancestory wise we're still subcontinental and we're under British rule.


America, Canada, China are unaffected dynasties who never picked up the sport so genetically the sporting culture is not their for the locals.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The Long Road to T20 World Cup Glory: How Extensive Travel Has Arisen as Another Obstacle for Teams in the Tournament​

The bigger the scale, the farther the travel. This has been the unfortunate reality that multiple teams in the T20 World Cup have been dealt with since the tournament is being hosted across the ever-expansive USA and the Caribbean.

With the stadiums spanning everywhere from the ‘Big Apple’ New York, to the coastal refuges of Florida to southern Dallas, continuous travel across the American landscape itself proves to be a challenge.

Add to the mix the Caribbean, with matches being hosted in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Antigua to say the least, it all makes for a logistical nightmare for a handful of teams.

In fact, there are 12 teams who will be forced to change base 2-3 times within the group stage, while 4 teams are slated to travel 4 times within the same span.

The unfortunate four are the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Scotland, and Bangladesh, who are scheduled to change base four times from the start of the warm-ups till the end of the first round.

Bangladesh will be most unfortunate out of all, as the team is scheduled to travel a whopping 9221 km — starting from Dallas to New York to Dallas again to New York again as well and finally end in Kingstown.

On the other hand, the luckiest ones are the defending champions England, who re slated to play all their initial matches in the Caribbean itself, aiding for easy and short travel — just 505 km of travel to be specific.

Here is a list of the distance that each team has to travel throughout their group stage matches, in descending order (in kilometers):

1. Bangladesh – 9,921
2. Sri Lanka – 8,097
3. Netherlands – 7,380
4. Nepal – 4,214
5. Canada – 3,922
6. USA – 3,922
7. Pakistan – 3,922
8. Ireland – 3,434
9. South Africa – 3,306
10. India – 1,717
11. West Indies – 1,709
12. Afghanistan – 1,521
13. PNG – 1,246
14. Uganda – 1,246
15. Scotland – 1,242
16. Australia – 1,195
17. Namibia – 924
18. Oman – 891
19. New Zealand – 623
20. England – 505

On top of the subpar nature of pitches in the USA especially, the tiring schedule for certain teams proves to be yet another factor working against them.

In fact, Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana spoke out on the scheduling which he believes has negatively impacted the team, after their loss to South Africa.

“So unfair for us, we have to leave every day (after the match) because we are playing (at) four different venues,” Theekshana said.

“The flight we took from Florida, from Miami, we had to wait like eight hours in the airport to get the flight. We were supposed to leave at 8 pm but we got the flight at 5 am. It’s really unfair for us, but it doesn’t matter when you play,” he added.

Whether the teams like it or not, they do not have a choice but to weather the storm metaphorically and literally as well, as the tournament progresses with every passing day.

The Long Road to T20 World Cup Glory: How Extensive Travel Has Arisen as Another Obstacle for Teams in the Tournament - News18

On top of the subpar nature of pitches in the USA especially, the tiring schedule for certain teams proves to be yet another factor working against them.

www.news18.com

 

[AAli98]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1798544147265311183

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Match Fixing At T20 World Cup? Player Approached Mysteriously, ICC Does This​

The spectre of corruption in cricket continues to challenge the game's administrators but one potential approach from a former Kenya international to a Uganda player in the ongoing T20 World Cup was dealt swiftly by the sleuths of ICC's anti-corruption unit. PTI has learned that the incident took place during the league stage matches in Guyana where a former Kenya pacer tried to contact a Ugandan team member multiple times from different numbers. Following ICC's strict anti-corruption protocol, the Ugandan player reported the approach to the ACU officials on site.

The development prompted the officials to raise a red flag against the former Kenya player by informing all the associate teams about him.

"It is not a surprise that this person targeted a player from the Ugandan national team. Associate nations, as compared to the big teams, are soft targets for corruption but in this case the player who was approached did the needful by informing the ICC at the earliest," a source told PTI.

Failure to report a corrupt approach is an offence under the ICC's anti-corruption code. The other offences include match-fixing, betting on the game, misuse of inside information and failing to co-operate with an investigation.

Uganda ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a memorable win over Papua New Guinea and losses to Afghanistan, New Zealand and the West Indies in Trinidad on Friday. Uganda, first-timers in the competition alongside Canada and co-hosts USA, played three of their four league games in Guyana.

"The maximum possible sanction for the most serious breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code is a life ban from all involvement in the game. In some countries, there is also the possibility of criminal sanctions," reads an extract from ICC anti-corruption code for participants.

All the international players are regularly briefed about a potential threat and are well-versed with the anti-corruption code.

Corrupt approaches at big ticket events are not new.

Back in the 2011 ODI World Cup in India, Canada's then 20-year-old wicket-keeper Hamza Tariq was approached by alleged bookmakers. He duly reported the matter to the authorities.

Source: NDTV

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Match Officials named for Super 8s at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Chris Gaffaney and Richard Kettleborough will be the on-field umpires for the USA’s historic first-ever knockout match at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which takes place against South Africa on June 19.

The co-hosts qualified in second place from Group A, in part thanks to a magnificent Super Over victory against Pakistan, and will now take on the Proteas as well as England and fellow co-hosts West Indies in Group 2 of the Super 8s.

Joel Wilson will be the TV Umpire for USA against South Africa, while he will also stand as on-field umpire alongside Gaffaney when the American team take on England in Barbados on June 23. Allahudien Paleker, who is making his senior men’s tournament debut in this competition, will act as the fourth umpire.

The same day will see Kettleborough return to the middle for the seismic Group 1 clash between Australia and India alongside compatriot Richard Illingworth.

Illingworth and Michael Gough will oversee Australia’s Super 8s opener against Bangladesh, while Nitin Menon and Ahsan Raza are the on-field umpires for England’s meeting with the West Indies.

Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, making history in this competition as the first Bangladeshi official at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, is the TV Umpire for that one, and will act as on-field umpire alongside Chris Brown for England’s second Group 2 game against South Africa.

Of the match referees, Jeff Crowe – who has overseen more T20Is than anyone else – will be in the chair for England’s clashes with the West Indies and South Africa as well as Australia against India.

Super 8s – Match Official appointments

June 19: USA v South Africa (Antigua)

Referee: Ranjan Madugalle

On-field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney and Richard Kettleborough

TV Umpire: Joel Wilson

Fourth Umpire: Langton Rusere

June 19: England v West Indies (St Lucia)

Referee: Jeff Crowe

On-field Umpires: Nitin Menon and Ahsan Raza

TV Umpire: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid

Fourth Umpire: Chris Brown

June 20: Afghanistan v India (Barbados)

Referee: David Boon

On-field Umpires: Rodney Tucker and Paul Reiffel

TV Umpire: Allahudien Paleker

Fourth Umpire: Alex Wharf

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh (Antigua)

Referee: Richie Richardson

On-field Umpires: Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough

TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena

Fourth Umpire: Adrian Holstock

June 21: England v South Africa (St Lucia)

Referee: Jeff Crowe

On-field Umpires: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and Chris Brown

TV Umpire: Joel Wilson

Fourth Umpire: Chris Gaffaney

June 21: USA v West Indies (Barbados)

Referee: David Boon

On-field Umpires: Paul Reiffel and Allahuddien Paleker

TV Umpire: Rodney Tucker

Fourth Umpire: Alex Wharf

June 22: India v Bangladesh (Antigua)

Referee: Ranjan Madugalle

On-field Umpires: Michael Gough and Adrian Holdstock

TV Umpire: Langton Rusere

Fourth Umpire: Richard Kettleborough

June 22: Afghanistan v Australia (St Vincent)

Referee: Richie Richardson

On-field Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena and Ahsan Raza

TV Umpire: Richard Illingworth

Fourth Umpire: Nitin Menon

June 23: USA v England (Barbados)

Referee: David Boon

On-field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney and Joel Wilson

TV Umpire: Paul Reiffel

Fourth Umpire: Allahudien Paleker

June 23: West Indies v South Africa (Antigua)

Referee: Ranjan Madugalle

On-field Umpires: Rodney Tucker and Alex Wharf

TV Umpire: Chris Brown

Fourth Umpire: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid

June 24: Australia v India (St Lucia)

Referee: Jeff Crowe

On-field Umpires: Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth

TV Umpire: Michael Gough

Fourth Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena

June 24: Afghanistan v Bangladesh (St Vincent)

Referee: Richie Richardson

On-field Umpires: Langton Rusere and Nitin Menon

TV Umpire: Adrian Holdstock

Fourth Umpire: Ahsan Raza

 

[BouncerGuy]

All the milestones in the Men’s T20 World Cup so far

A glance at the statistical wonders from this edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.

With the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in action, we've witnessed some enthralling cricket already.

Amidst the stunning upsets, and nail-biting thrillers, several cricketing milestones have been achieved.

Let's take a look at them:

Most Wickets in Men’s World Cups

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has engraved his name atop an elite list having picked up the most wickets in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (ODI) and the Men’s T20 World Cup combined.

When he beat the bat of Tanzid Hasan during Australia's win over Bangladesh in Super Eight, Starc improved his total to 95 World Cup wickets, one ahead of Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga.

Most wickets in Men's World Cups (ODIs and T20Is)

Player	Nation	Wickets in CWC/T20WC	Total Wickets in World Cups
Mitchell Starc	Australia	65/30	95
Lasith Malinga	Sri Lanka	56/38	94
Shakib Al Hasan	Bangladesh	43/49	92
Trent Boult	New Zealand	53/34	87
Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	68/11	79

West Indies equal the record for most runs in a T20I over

A record set back in the early days of the Men’s T20 World Cup was equalled by West Indies when they scored 36 runs off the fourth over of their final group game against Afghanistan.

26 off these runs came off the willow of Nicholas Pooran, who hit three sixes and two fours in the over. Courtesy his explosive knock of 98, the Windies eased past Afghanistan with a convincing 104-run win.

This 36-run over equalled the record for most runs in a T20I over. While this instance has occurred four more times, it was only the second occasion in Men's T20I World Cup. The first instance was in the inaugural event in South Africa, where Yuvraj Singh hit Stuart Broad for 36 runs.

Facing Bangladesh in the Super Eights, Australia star pacer Pat Cummins bagged himself the first hat-trick of the T20 World Cup this year, by picking up the wickets of Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan and Towhid Hridoy in the last two balls of the 18th over and the first ball of the final over respectively.

With this feat, Cummins has become only the seventh player to have scalped a hat-trick in the Men’s T20 World Cup, following Brett Lee (2007), Curtis Campher (2021), Wanindu Hasaranga (2021), Kagiso Rabada (2021), Karthik Meiyappan (2022), and Josh Little (2022). After Lee, he was the second Australian to do it.

Record Partnerships

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (76 runs in 45 balls) and Ibrahim Zadran (70 runs in 46 balls) set the second-highest opening partnership in T20 World Cup history with a 154 run stand in Afghanistan's win over Uganda by 125 runs in their opening fixture.

They sit behind the duo of England openers Alex Hales (86 runs in 47 balls) and Jos Buttler (80 runs in 49 balls), who registered a 170-run partnership in the semi-final of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, against India, showcasing a memorable 10-wicket win.

Highest opening partnership in Men's T20 World Cup

Players	Country	Against	Year	Runs
Alex Hales and Jos Buttler	England	India	2022	170
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran	Afghanistan	Uganda	2024	154
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam	Pakistan	India	2021	152
Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle	West Indies	South Africa	2007	145
Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal	Pakistan	Bangladesh	2010	142

On the deep end, Sherfane Rutherford (68 runs in 39 balls) and Gudakesh Motie set the record for the highest-ever partnership for the 10th wicket, registering 37 runs against New Zealand in their Group C encounter. This record stand was built in the final two overs, and helped West Indies overcome a poor start to post a winning total.

Most catches in a T20 World Cup game

In the ongoing edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup, Glenn Maxwell (Australia) and Aiden Markram (South Africa), have equalled Daren Sammy’s record of four successful catches in a single innings.

Sammy’s record from back in 2010 was leveled by Maxwell when Australia locked horns with Namibia in Group B, followed by Aiden Markram equalling it against Bangladesh in their Group D encounter.

Most catches in a T20 World Cup game

Player	Country	Against	Year	Catches
Daren Sammy	West Indies	Ireland	2010	4
Aiden Markram	South Africa	Bangladesh	2024	4
Glenn Maxwell	Australia	Namibia	2024	4
Brett Lee	Australia	Sri Lanka	2007	3
Sulieman Benn	West Indies	Australia	2009	3

Aaron Jones equals Chris Gayle for the record of most sixes in a T20 World Cup innings

USA captain Aaron Jones wrote his name into the history books not only for pulling the co-hosts up against neighbouring rivals Canada in the tournament opener, leading to their historic maiden win in the contest but also a created a milestone with the bat.

Jones smashed a record 10 sixes in the Group A opener against Canada, amassing 94 runs off just 40 balls. Only West Indian icon Chris Gayle has smashed more (11 sixes) in the competition, against England, back in 2016.

Two West Indians, Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope, also made it into the list at the joint third place. Pooran hit eight maximums against Afghanistan, whereas Hope hit the same number against the USA.

Most sixes in a T20 World Cup match

Player	Country	Against	Year	6s
Chris Gayle	West Indies	England	2016	11
Chris Gayle	West Indies	South Africa	2007	10
Aaron Jones	USA	Canada	2024	10
Rilee Rossouw	South Africa	Bangladesh	2022	8
Nicholas Pooran	West Indies	Afghanistan	2024	8
Shai Hope	West Indies	USA	2024	8

Anrich Nortje becomes the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in Men's T20 World Cups

The South African pace express has been in an exceptional run this tournament. With 11 scalps at an average of mere 12.9, he has been leading the South Africa charge in the tournament.

When he picked the key wicket of Harry Brook in the final over during the riveting England-South Africa encounter, he became the leading wicket-taker for Proteas in the event.

Most wickets for South Africa in Men's T20 World Cups

Player	Wickets	Average	Best performance in an innings
Anrich Nortje	31	10.96	4/7
Dale Steyn	30	19.30	4/17
Morne Morkel	24	18.83	4/17
Kagiso Rabada	24	23.54	3/18
Imran Tahir	18	11.88	4/21

ICC

 

[FearlessRoar]

No team has successfully defended their ICC T20 World Cup title, which means that T20 cricket doesn't offer consistency.

 

[BouncerGuy]

'Most amazing feeling in the world': Gayle on T20 World Cup glory ahead of final

As he previews the final of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, Chris Gayle has shared his experiences of twice tasting tournament glory.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup ambassador and two-time tournament winner Chris Gayle has described both occasions of lifting the trophy among his life's "most special experiences" ahead of India's meeting with South Africa for 2024 accolades.

Reflecting in his own achievements as a key member of the West Indies side to lift the trophy in 2012 and 2016, the destructive opening batter shed light on the euphoria of final wins over Sri Lanka and England respectively.

The man known as the Universe Boss also indicated the West Indies side commemorated both tournament victories with rings, and the 44-year-old revealed his plans to pass down the keepsakes to his future generations.

"I have so many treasured items from my career but my two rings for winning (T20) World Cups are the standouts," Gayle began.

"They are like Super Bowl rings, almost physical proof that you have climbed to the top of the mountain and become champions of the world.

"When she’s older, I will give both of my rings – for being part of the West Indies sides that won the T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016 – to my daughter and I can’t wait for that moment.

"I will tell her to keep one, and then pass the other one down to my future grandchildren, and I’m so proud to keep them in our family for generations.

"I promise the winners, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world."

Saturday's final pits two undefeated teams in Barbados, with India seeking to reclaim the trophy they last won in the inaugural 2007 edition, and South Africa looking to etch their name on a senior World Cup trophy for the first time.

Looking ahead to the match at Kensington Oval, Gayle finds it tough to split the two sides.

“It is going to be so hard to call – with two teams who have played clean and aggressive cricket throughout the tournament," he said.

“We have a final fit for the occasion."

As for who could shine in Saturday's final, Gayle picked out Jasprit Bumrah as a potential point of difference for India against South Africa's batting line-up.

The quick bowler has claimed 13 wickets in his seven outings at an almost unthinkable T20 economy of 4.12, and comes off a spell of 2/12 (2.4) against England in their semi-final victory in Guyana.

While the right-armer holds the key, Gayle had earmarked South Africa as potential winners ahead of the tournament, and a victory over a world-class bowler and team would make a maiden senior tournament win that little bit sweeter.

“India are going to be so hard to beat. They bat so deep and in Jasprit Bumrah, have a world-class death bowler who can break the hearts of the opponents," Gayle noted.

“In contrast, I picked South Africa as a dark horse before the tournament began, and it is very special to see them finally reach their first final after so many semi-final upsets.

“Getting over the hump and winning a World Cup is so special and if they can do it, it will create memories that will last a lifetime for the players and the nation.”

ICC