As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup approaches, cricket fans are eagerly anticipating the warm-up match between India and Bangladesh on June 1 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Captains Najmul Hossain Shanto and Rohit Sharma took a moment to explore the newly completed stadium ahead of the game.
The true test for the stadium will come on June 3, when it hosts its first official tournament match. However, all eyes will be on the ground on June 1 as two powerhouse teams fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup.
Following a disappointing series loss to the USA, Shanto’s Bangladesh side is eager to find their winning form. For India, this warm-up match is a crucial opportunity to gear up for their quest to claim the T20 World Cup trophy on June 29.
The sight of two prominent captains marveling at the state-of-the-art facility, which was constructed in just three months, adds to the excitement surrounding this venue, set to be a key player in the largest T20 World Cup ever.
Shanto, who had only seen the stadium through photos and videos during its construction, was impressed upon seeing it in person.
It’s unbelievable. I think it’s crazy,
Shanto remarked.
We all saw on the internet there was nothing here three months ago. Now, it looks like a proper stadium and feels great.
I didn’t expect the Eastern grandstand to be like this. It’s almost like a proper stadium. The ground itself looks very good. It’s a proper cricket ground.
To be very honest, I wasn’t expecting anything like this, but we all followed the progress on social media, and we’re very excited to see what happens here.
It feels very good and looks crazy to me.
‘Can’t Wait to Feel the Stadium Atmosphere’
The stadium, which can seat up to 34,000 people, features temporary stands designed by Populous and turf supplied by LandTek Group, known for their work with New York’s Major League Baseball teams and Inter Miami Major League Soccer team. The drop-in turf square was curated in Florida by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and head curator Damian Hough, then transported in pieces on a 20-hour journey before being assembled in the stadium.
Rohit Sharma, looking around at the stands and the pitch, praised those who made the project a reality.
It looks beautiful. It’s quite an open ground. When we come here and play our first game, I just can’t wait to feel the atmosphere in the stadium,
the Indian captain said.
It has a decent capacity as well. Hopefully, it’s gonna be a good one.
People in New York will be very interested in coming and watching the World Cup, with the tournament happening here for the first time.
I’m pretty sure all the fans across the various teams are quite excited and looking forward to this tournament. And we as players can’t wait to get started,
he added.
