A legislator from New York City reached out to Greg Barclay, the chair of the ICC, with a special request. She asked him to think about the possibility of hosting the T20 World Cup matches in the city next year.
There’s no denying the global explosion of cricket’s popularity, now even making its mark in the USA with the rise of Major League Cricket (MLC). An interesting development reflecting this is the request from a New York City legislator to ICC Chair Greg Barclay. The bid suggests New York City as a host for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup matches, further consolidating the sport’s status in the US.
The anticipation increases as the co-hosts for the next 2024 T20I World Cup are announced: the West Indies and the USA. Notably, an ICC delegation has singled out New York as a potential contender for hosting matches in this renowned event in 2024.
Jenifer Rajkumar, an Assemblywoman representing New York, ardently lobbies for her city to be a preferred destination for some of the T20I World Cup matches. Her enthusiasm originates from the great potential of New York City as a lively background for this marquee event.
“Our City is home to the largest South Asian community in the Western Hemisphere, along with significant West Indian, British, Australian, New Zealander, Emirati, and African Diaspora communities. Every World Cup team enjoys a dedicated fan base in New York City, and the prospect of witnessing their favorite cricketers live in action would truly be a dream come true,” Jenifer Rajkumar wrote according to Cricbuzz.
Moreover, in a poignant letter sent to the ICC chair, Jenifer Rajkumar eloquently underscored the relevance of cricket within her community and its growing popularity in America. She elaborated on the city’s lengthy association with the sport, stressing its rich historical roots. In doing so, she bolstered her thesis for why the city would be a perfect host for multiple matches during the forthcoming event.
“As the epicenter of cricket in the United States, New York is the ideal host of the World Cup. We are home to an estimated 100 cricket clubs, boast 59 cricket grounds, and numerous leagues. Even the New York Police Department (NYPD) operates its own youth cricket league. New York City also proudly boasts the oldest continuous cricket club in America, Staten Island Cricket Club, which was founded in 1872,” Rajkumar added.
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