Cricketing revolution unfolds in the Caribbean and USA

The world of cricket is humming with anticipation as the preparations for the eagerly awaited 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup come into full swing, set to captivate audiences from June 4 to 30 2024

The tournament will share its venues between the Caribbean and the United States of America, etching a noteworthy chapter in the annals of the sport

According to reports, sources indicate that the colossal event will unfold in 10 venues, with the US preparing to play host to an international global cricket event for the first time in its history

Reports are that an International Cricket

Council (ICC) delegation recently performed an inspection of the prospective venues in the US, among them the well-known Lauderhill in Florida, a location with a history of hosting international matches

The venues on the shortlist also include Morrisville, Dallas, and New York, expected to be the arenas for a host of tournament and warm-up matches

The kick-off edition of Major League Cricket in the USA is in progress in Morrisville and Dallas, highlighting the burgeoning fervor and zeal for cricket in the country Dallas’ Grand Prairie Stadium, Morrisville’s Church Street Park, and Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, New York, are all competing for the status of an international venue, an essential condition according to ICC regulations

The final verdict on the venues will be a joint resolution by the ICC, Cricket West Indies (CWI), and USA Cricket (USAC), expected to be reached in the months ahead, further fueling the suspense and anticipation among cricket enthusiasts and stakeholders

Reports are that Ireland, Scotland, and Papua New Guinea have already secured their places in the 20-team T20 World Cup through the regional qualifiers pathway established by the ICC

Papua New Guinea triumphed in the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, while Ireland and Scotland demonstrated their strength by taking the top two positions in the Europe Region Qualifier

The race for qualifiers from the Americas (one spot), Africa (two spots), and Asia (two spots) regions is in full swing, setting the stage for more showdowns and intense emotional moments in the cricket community

The tournament line-up is already packed with cricketing titans, with 12 teams having secured their places before the regional qualifiers

Powerhouses such as the host nations West Indies and USA, along with the top eight teams from the 2022 T20 World Cup –Australia, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka – are all set to flaunt their talent in the cricket spectacle

Afghanistan and Bangladesh have also clinched their spots due to their commendable positions in the T20I rankings, rounding off the formidable 20-team line-up

The 2024 T20 World Cup is set to introduce a new format, setting it apart from its previous versions held in the UAE (2020-21) and Australia (2022)

The 20 participating teams will be split into four groups of five, clashing fiercely in the opening round The leading two teams from each group will then advance into the highoctane Super 8s, where the tension and thrill will reach new heights

The Super 8 teams will be separated into two groups of four, with the leading two from each group proceeding to the muchanticipated semi-finals

Historic fromA1 Spencer

Jamaica then edged CONCACAF neighbours Panama 1-0 on an Allyson Swaby header to put the Reggae Girlz in pole position ahead of Brazil for the second spot from the group On Wednesday morning, Brazil were much the better team in possession and chances created but the Jamaicans, as they have done so far in the three games, stood resolutely and defiantly at all attacks thrown at them

In dumping out the South American champions, the Reggae Girlz inflicted a severe blow on Pia Sundhage’s Brazil, and certainly pulled the curtain on the career of one of the greatest women ’ s player of all time, six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta, who started the game before being substituted late in the second half

It was Brazil’s earliest elimination at the group stage in over six World Cup cycles

Goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer was one of the outstanding players for Jamaica, proving equal to the task at denying all efforts on goal and appearing to be in the right position at all times

Jamaica will now face the winner of Group H, currently being led by South America’s Colombia on August 8 in the Round of 16 knockout It is the first time a Caribbean team has advanced to the knockout round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Tournament, an extraordinary accomplishment for a team which had its women ’ s programme scrapped a decade ago