Former West Indies cricket captain Chris Gayle is hopeful that the upcoming T20 World Cup will help cricket gain popularity in the United States. The tournament, starting on June 1, will be held in the US and Gayle’s home country, the West Indies. It’s expected to attract large crowds.
Gayle, speaking from Barbados, stressed how important the T20 World Cup is for introducing cricket to a global audience, especially in the US. He mentioned the success of a T20 tournament held there last year, showing that cricket is gaining interest in the country.
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“The ICC has been trying to promote cricket on a global scale in the USA,” Gayle told AFP in an interview.
The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan, two long-standing rivals in cricket, will be held at a temporary 34,000-seat venue in Long Island, New York. Gayle believes this match will be “phenomenal” and a significant moment for cricket in America.
“India vs Pakistan in New York is going to be amazing. They had a T20 tournament last year, and it was a success. It’s a big market, and we hope it’ll be a hit in the United States,” Gayle added.
The West Indies cricket team has a strong history in limited-overs cricket. The T20 World Cup gives them a chance to compete on the global stage.
Gayle personally hopes to see the West Indies team make it to the final, which is set to take place in Barbados on June 29. He acknowledges that anything can happen in the final matches.
We missed out on the 50-over World Cup, so this will be fantastic for the guys to compete for something,” said Gayle, speaking via video call from Barbados.
“I’m excited for people to see some cricket,” added Gayle, known for his powerful batting. He made history in 2007 by becoming the first player to score a century in a T20 international match.
