Seven Caribbean Nations To Host T20 World Cup
ICC Confirms Host Countries
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that seven Caribbean nations and the United States will host matches for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for June 2024.
The Caribbean host countries are:
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Trinidad and Tobago
Dominica
Guyana
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
In addition to these Caribbean venues, games will also be held in New York, Florida, and Texas, marking the first time a major ICC event will be staged in the United States.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice highlighted that the matches will give cricket fans the unique experience of enjoying world-class cricket in the Caribbean and the United States.
Jamaica Opts Out of Hosting
One notable absence from the list of hosts is Jamaica, a country with deep cricketing history and the largest population among the main cricket-playing (#ad) nations in the region.
Sabina Park in Kingston is one of the iconic venues in West Indies cricket, but Jamaica did not submit a bid to host matches.
Courtney Francis, CEO of the Jamaican Cricket Association, explained the decision.
According to Francis, Cricket West Indies engaged with national governments about hosting opportunities, but Jamaica’s administration chose not to participate.
“The government is the one who determines whether we could host matches because all the expenses would have come back to the government,” Francis told CVM Television.
He added that the government would have needed to fund the bid, cover infrastructure repairs, and other related costs.
Ultimately, officials did not see the investment as a viable option.
West Indies Ready to Showcase Cricket Again
The Caribbean has significant experience hosting international cricket events.
The region previously hosted the 2010 T20 World Cup and the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies, expressed confidence in the region’s ability to deliver another successful tournament.
“The West Indies has a huge amount of experience in hosting ICC events and we’re currently hosting the Caribbean Premier League, which has been another successful tournament,” Grave said.
He emphasized that stakeholders across the region are ready to welcome fans from around the world and stage an iconic global event.
Grave also noted the broader benefits for the Caribbean, including tourism, economic development, and the chance for the West Indies men’s team to chase a record third T20 World Cup title on home soil.
A Historic T20 World Cup
Next year’s competition will feature a record 20 teams, expanding the tournament’s global reach and creating more opportunities for emerging cricket nations.
The current champions, England, will look to defend their title after defeating Pakistan in the final in Melbourne in 2022 to claim their second T20 crown.
The 2024 edition promises exciting matches across vibrant Caribbean venues and groundbreaking games in the United States, showcasing cricket to new audiences and strengthening its global appeal.