The biggest cricketing extravaganza is set to commence as the T20 World Cup will kicks start in the USA and West Indies from today (Sunday), report agencies.
The ball is set to be rolling for the 9th edition of the T20 World Cup, which will be played between 20 teams for the first time in the history of the tournament.
As the anticipation builds up for the marquee tournament, let us delve into the details of the mega-opening ceremony. It will not be any ordinary one, as the pre-tournament fireworks will take place in both the host nations, the USA and the West Indies.
The USA will be playing and hosting a tournament for the very first time. The hosts will play the tournament opener, making their debut in T20I cricket at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas today (Sunday).
The opening ceremony, however, will take place in Guyana ahead of the second match, in which co-hosts West Indies will start their campaign against Papua New Guinea today (Sunday).
A number of performers have been booked for the event which will start two hours before the first ball is sent down.Star Trinidadian singers David Rudder with Erphaan Alves and Chutney music star Ravi B along with DJs Anna and Ultra will light up the Guyana National Stadium in Guyana during the T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony.
A record 20 teams have converged upon the United States and West Indies ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup, offering plenty of chances for cricket's lesser lights to shine in the month-long spectacle.
Split across four groups, the sport's usual trophy contenders are joined by a dozen more hopefuls eager to make their presence felt, starting with Canada and co-hosts United States who both make their tournament debut in the opening match in Dallas.
Uganda will also feature for the first time and for veteran spinner Frank Nsubuga, 43, it marks the apex of a personal journey which began in 1997, a year before his country was granted membership to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In the 2022 edition, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies fell to Netherlands, Namibia and Scotland respectively, three blossoming sides capable of ruffling more feathers this time around despite operating with a fraction of the budget distributed by the ICC to test-playing nations.
Despite beating eventual champions England during the group stage of the last World Cup, Ireland face an uphill Group A battle placed alongside India and Pakistan.
Afghanistan, whose talismanic captain Rashid Khan and predecessor Mohammad Nabi return from Indian Premier League duty, pose a constant white-ball threat and will fancy their chances of a top-two finish in Group C ahead of two-time victors West Indies.
Bangladesh are no longer pushovers but the T20 World Cup has not been a happy hunting ground and a 24 per cent winning record suggests it will be difficult to advance past South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group D.
To have any hope of reaching the 'Super 8s', Oman would need to stun Australia or England in Group B.
Nepal, travelling without spinner Sandeep Lamichhane who was recently cleared of rape on appeal but has been unable to secure a visa to enter the US, and Papua New Guinea enter their second showing with minimal expectations but nothing to lose.
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