BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
Cricket West Indies (CWI) made recommendations to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the match allocations for the 2024 ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States, but the proposal still needs to be ratified by the directors of the sport’s world organising body.
CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave sought to clarify the bidding process for the global showpiece after the seven host territories were revealed last week, and media reports indicated that Kensington Oval in Barbados was set to host the final.
CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow refuted the claim that Kensington Oval will host the final on the Mason & Guest cricket talkshow on Voice of Barbados 92.9 FM on Tuesday in Bridgetown, though Barbados Cricket Association president Conde Riley suggested he had documents stating that the island’s bid for the final and a series of other matches had been successful.
Tourism officials in the island also touted the success of the bid to stage the final and other matches during a promotional event in the Cayman Islands this past week, but Grave said “the enthusiasm and interest” shown was a bit premature because there were other requirements.
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“Following a robust selection process of our seven host venues, CWI-appointed Venues Selection Committee, chaired by President Dr Kishore Shallow, has made recommendations to the ICC on allocations of matches for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” he said in a media release on Wednesday.
“These recommendations are subject to venues confirming commitment to all required obligations and ICC approval.”
He added: “We are delighted by the enthusiasm and interest expressed by our host governments and cricket boards and appreciate the hard work and commitment shown as we look to deliver a spectacular Men’s T20 World Cup next year.
“We will now work with the ICC, our hosts, and ICC members to finalise the match schedule in the coming weeks.”
The allocation of matches is to be considered and approved when the ICC holds its next meeting of directors in November.
During the talkshow, Shallow also indicated that Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago had put in bids for the semi-finals and the final.
The ICC announced last week that seven Caribbean countries, as well as three cities in the United States will host matches in the Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Caribbean countries selected are Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and T&T, and the three American cities are Dallas, Broward in the state of Florida, and New York.
The Men’s T20 World Cup, to be played between June 4 and June 30, will have 20 teams playing a total of 55 matches across the 10 venues.
It is the third time a men’s World Cup will be staged in the Caribbean, and the first time in 14 years, after the region previously stage the 2007 One-day International World Cup and the 2010 T20 World Cup
