By Rawle Toney
Barbados has been selected to host the 2024 T20 World Cup, Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president Conde Riley has revealed.
But despite his declaration that the word had come directly from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow appeared to clash with the territorial cricket boss on a Voice of Barbados radio programme as he sought to play down expectations.
The ICC last week announced Kensington Oval as one of seven Caribbean venues for next year’s tournament, following what the BCA said was a compelling bid, but did not release the tournament schedule.
However, appearing on the popular Mason and Guest radio show on Tuesday night, Riley said Barbados would host the June 20 final.
He was challenged by Dr Shallow, also a guest on the show, who said there has been no official word from cricket’s global governing body regarding the match dates.
“I think my good comrade is quite hopeful and optimistic that Barbados will host the finals, but it is a clear process,” he said.
But in response, Riley maintained that the ICC had already communicated that the iconic Kensington Oval would be the venue for the final.
“Barbados has been earmarked, not from Cricket West Indies, but the ICC, to host the finals, semi-finals and a number of games in the Super 8, which includes England and India.
“It will cost our Government a bit more based on what we put forward if we get the Super 8 with England and India. I’m sure the president (of CWI) is aware of what we’ve bid for and what we have been offered,” the outspoken, longstanding cricket administrator firmly stated.
Barbados previously hosted the 2007 World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka, as well as the 2010 T20 World Cup final, which featured Australia and England.
Barbados TODAY understands that the governments and cricket boards in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago also submitted bids to host the T20 final.
Dr Shallow was adamant that Riley should await an official announcement from the ICC following a review of all submitted bids.
“This is a bid for an event and the ICC will determine…. I think the focus currently is really on ensuring that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is in place and the execution staff are in place for next year…. No later than November you’ll see the schedule coming out, which is critical because we’re appealing to the Indian market,” the CWI president said.
“It is critical for stakeholders to appreciate the magnitude of the tournament and what it can actually do for the Caribbean so that they can embrace it. There are tremendous opportunities out there for multiple stakeholders. So far, so good. It’s exciting times and the stakeholders in the region have all reason to be excited.”
The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup will see a total of 20 teams participating, with 15 already confirmed. The remaining five spots will be determined in the Americas, Asia, and African qualifiers in the coming months.
As hosts, the United States and West Indies qualify automatically.
The games in the US will be held at venues confirmed in Grand Prairie (Dallas), Broward County (Florida), and Nassau County (New York).
The other Caribbean nations selected to host matches for the June 4-20, 2024 tournament are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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