According to reports, the Indian cricket team is in New York, preparing for the first few matches of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The action begins on June 5 with a game against Ireland. The Indian team had its first practice session at Cantiague Park on Tuesday, where three of the six pitches at the makeshift venue were put to use. However, clearly stating their mind, reports coming out of the Indian camp said they were not happy with the practice facilities provided to them, which have been termed as makeshift and average.
“Everything is makeshift – from pitches to other facilities. It is safe to say everything is very average in nature. The team has raised their concerns,” said a source quoted by News18. The Indian team will practice in Cantiague Park with below-average facilities until their practice game against Bangladesh on June 1.
The other three contests under the scanner are the round-robins: three in number, which India will play against Pakistan, USA, and Ireland at this venue. Post road, India will then cross the shores to play Canada in its last group game at Florida. They would like to open their account in the T20 World Cup on a high, along with a win against Ireland in the first match.
India shall be playing against Ireland on the 5th of June, Pakistan on the 9th of June, USA on the 12th of June, and Canada on the 15th of June in the group stage. The team feels that it is going to be put through the sternest test in the match against Pakistan in the first stage, and at the same time, they are looking to make some mileage against a few relatively lighter clashes in the first phase of the tournament.
Competing teams in the 2024 T20 World Cup will be: Group A: Canada, USA, India, Pakistan, and Ireland; Group B: Oman, England, Australia, Namibia, and Scotland; Group C: Uganda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan; Group D: Netherlands, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
The focus, hence, is very much on getting the World T20 off to a good start now. The warm-up game performances against Bangladesh will determine a lot in terms of self-confidence. Now, the shift to Florida for a group-stage game at the end heralds the beginning of the second part of this World Cup for India, who will now try to progress with a positive psychological surge.
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