T20 WC: Wrap-up in New York as bulldozers arrive to dismantle Nassau County Cricket Stadium after IND-USA tie
Wrap-up in New York as bulldozers arrive to dismantle Nassau County Stadium
The time has come for cricket to say goodbye to New York as the bulldozers have arrived at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium to dismantle it following hosting its last league match between India and the USA on Wednesday (June 12). Based in Eisenhower Park premises in Nassau County, this pop-up stadium, with a seating capacity of nearly 34,000, was built in around 106 days. It will get dismantled in six weeks, the authorities confirmed.
With the ICC picking the USA and Caribbean Islands as co-hosts of this 20-team tournament, three venues in America were locked in, including Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas and the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida. While the USA host just 16 matches, all Super Eight games, including the semis and finale, will take place in the West Indies.
Meanwhile, just after hosting the final league match between the USA and powerhouse India, the bulldozers arrived on Thursday (June 13) morning to dismantle this stadium.
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On Wednesday, the authorities confirmed that only the ground and pitch will remain for the fans and local clubs to visit and access, but the stands will be removed.
Besides, this talked-about venue also hosted the marquee T20 World Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on June 9, which India won by six runs.
Pitches under scanner
The drop-in pitches used at this stadium called for several opinions, with former stars, commentators and even current cricketers calling the wickets here ‘tougher’ to bat at than at other venues. Per Cricbuzz, the ICC left it to the local authorities to take a call on the pitches; otherwise, the ICC will reallocate these pitches, which were prepared and transported from Adelaide and assembled in Florida, to where they will be needed.
"If they want to keep them and handle the required maintenance, they can," an ICC official said.
Although the talks of some of the Major League Cricket (MLC) matches taking place at this venue were held, the concerned authorities and franchises were not too excited about this prospect.
Meanwhile, the second season of the MLC will begin almost a week after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup (June 29) on July 5, with several Aussie cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell, plying their trade from respective sides.
(With inputs from agencies)
