Balbirnie believes T20 World Cup in USA will be a success

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6 hours ago

Ireland's Andrew Balbirnie believes T20 World Cup will be a success in the United States .

While organizational duties are shared with the West Indies, the ICC hopes to open a new market for the sport in the United States with matches in Texas, Florida and New York.

The United States will open the tournament on June 2 against Canada at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas with the first match of Ireland three days later against India at Nassau County Stadium in New York. June, that the Stanley Cup of ice hockey is played at the same time and the US Open of golf a week later, will cricket make a dent against these other major events?

Balbirnie believes the sport is starting to make a good impression in a country where baseball is the national pastime.

"Obviously , we've seen the kind of progress of the stadium being built in New York, and of course India and Pakistan there are going to be a big attraction," he said. The 33-year-old added: "I'm thinking of playing against the two North teams. Americans there too, in Canada and the United States, it's pretty special.

“I think it will be a pretty unique World Cup for us. »

Ireland toured the United States in 2021 and therefore have some experience of playing there.

Crowds are expected to swell with the number of expatriates from each of the competing nations living and working in North America.

« It's a very new country when it comes to cricket, but I think it's very passionate at the same time," Balbirnie said.

"I think it's very exciting. We're very excited to go to Fort Lauderdale and New York and, yes, I hope we can give the NBA and golf a run for their money. »