Legendary West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle is optimistic about the potential of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to make a significant impact in the American sports market, elevating cricket to new heights globally.
With the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 set to kick off on June 1 in the West Indies and USA, Gayle is hoping for massive crowds to gather during the mega ICC event, as it is the first major international cricket tournament to be held in the United States.
Well, the highly anticipated showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place at a temporary 34,000-seat venue in Long Island, New York, will see a remarkable crowd, and Gayle feels it is an opportunity to showcase cricket's attraction to a new audience.
The former World Cup winner also felt the recent success of the inaugural Major League Cricket, a T20 franchise competition based in the US, gained widespread attention and support in America.
Chris Gayle told AFP in an interview marking 100 days to go until the start of the T20 WC 2024: “The ICC (International Cricket Council) has been trying to get cricket on a global scale within the USA.”
The former explosive batter added: “India v Pakistan is in New York, I'm sure it's going to be phenomenal. They (the USA) had a T20 tournament last year and it was a success. It's a big market, we just have to hope it will be a success within the United States.”
Meanwhile, the West Indies failed to qualify for last year's ODI World Cup 2023, and Gayle wants the hosts to give it all to win their third T20 World Cup trophy in front of the home crowd.
He signed off by saying, “We missed out on the 50-over World Cup so this will be something fantastic for the guys to actually play for something. We just want to be in the (June 29) final here in Barbados. Anything is possible when you make it to the final. I'm excited for the people, to actually see a bit of cricket.”
(With AFP Inputs)
