The International Cricket Council (ICC) has achieved a significant milestone in its preparations for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 by installing specially curated pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, where Bangladesh is scheduled to play their second match against South Africa on June 10.
These ten drop-in pitches, meticulously prepared in Florida since December, have been transported to New York with the support of ICC's global logistics partner DP World. Cultivated with Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass and nurtured by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions led by renowned curator Damian Hough, these pitches have been crafted using techniques perfected at the iconic Adelaide Oval, as revealed in an ICC press release.
Four of these pitches will be installed at the Nassau County stadium, while the remaining six will be designated for nearby practice facilities. The Adelaide Oval team will remain on-site to assist local grounds crews in maintaining world-class playing surfaces throughout the tournament.
Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, described the installation of these pitches as one of the final pieces of an unprecedented project in international cricket. He emphasized the innovative approach of bringing the T20 World Cup to the United States with a temporary venue and pitches sourced from across the globe.
Damian Hough, Adelaide Oval Head Curator, expressed his excitement about showcasing their expertise to a global audience and emphasized their focus on ensuring the highest quality playing surfaces in New York.
The state-of-the-art modular stadium in Nassau County, with a seating capacity of 34,000, will host eight World Cup matches featuring teams such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the USA, and Bangladesh. The tournament will kick off on June 3 with a match between 2014 champions Sri Lanka and South Africa.
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