In an official announcement made on Thursday, Dominica declared its inability to meet the deadline for the completion of stadium development, prompting the withdrawal from hosting its designated T20 World Cup matches slated for the upcoming year. Dominica, with Windsor Park as the chosen venue, had been assigned the responsibility of hosting one group match and two Super Eight games among the seven Caribbean countries under consideration for hosting duties.
Despite substantial endeavors to upgrade both Windsor Park Sports Stadium and Benjamin’s Park, encompassing improvements to practice and match venues along with the creation of additional pitches, the government disclosed that the contractors’ projected timelines indicated a shortfall in completing the necessary works before the commencement of the tournament.
The government’s official statement acknowledged the formidable challenges posed by the contractors’ timelines, leading to the prudent decision not to host any matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Recognizing Dominica’s illustrious track record in hosting international cricket, this decision is considered to be in the best interest of all stakeholders involved.
As of June 2024, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to embark on uncharted territory, finding its stage in the United States. Alongside the West Indies, which previously hosted the tournament in 2010, the United States will now share the responsibility of hosting the prestigious cricket event.
The selected venues for the tournament will span across both the Caribbean Islands and the United States, with Grand Prairie in Dallas, Broward County in Florida, and Nassau County in New York announced as key locations.
The 2024 edition of the tournament introduces a modified format, featuring 20 teams divided into two stages before advancing to the knockout phase. This departure from the First Round/Super 12 arrangement witnessed in the 2021 and 2022 editions adds a fresh dynamic to the competition.
