Fawwaz Baksh, the tournament director for the T20 World Cup 2024, is on a mission to elevate the event to unprecedented heights, aiming to make it the biggest spectacle in cricket history. With the opening of the public ballot for tickets, the response has been nothing short of phenomenal, with a staggering 1.2 million applications pouring in from 126 countries.
Notably, a substantial portion of the applications, totalling 900,000, hailed from cricket enthusiasts in the West Indies and the USA, where the tournament will be co-hosted for the first time.
Learning from past experiences, particularly the low attendance witnessed during the 2007 tournament hosted by the West Indies, Baksh is determined not to repeat the same mistakes. To ensure maximum inclusivity, tickets for the T20 World Cup 2024 start from as low as $6, making it accessible to a wide range of fans.
Expanding the tournament from 16 to 20 countries further adds to its grandeur, with six Caribbean venues and three USA venues selected to promote cricket in the region. According to Baksh, pairing up the West Indies and the USA is a recipe for success, combining the vibrant party atmosphere of the Caribbean with the excitement of introducing cricket to a new market in the USA.
“When you pair up West Indies and the USA, it’s a recipe for success,” the Guyanese sports administrator told Reuters.
“We in the West Indies are known for a great time, we’re known for the party atmosphere. When fans come here and watch the games, they should expect that.
“So come here to watch great cricket, but come here also to have a great experience.”
The overwhelming response from cricket enthusiasts, including expatriates and fans from diverse backgrounds, in the USA underscores the growing interest in the sport. Baksh emphasizes the importance of attracting fans to the stadiums as a crucial step in revitalizing cricket in the West Indies and introducing the sport to American audiences.
T20 World Cup 2024 director happy to see massive response from hosts’ fans
“Introducing cricket into the U.S., which is a new market to us, we weren’t quite sure what the response would be,” he added.
“We know there are quite a lot of expats in the United States and people from all across the world are interested in cricket.
“But to see this kind of response, it’s very encouraging.”
“If you want to introduce the sport in the U.S., if you want to revitalise cricket in the West Indies, you have to get the fans here,” he said.
“And the only way you can get the fans here is by making tickets attractive, making them accessible.”
As the T20 World Cup 2024 unfolds, Baksh envisions it as a transformative moment for cricket, with the tournament leaving an indelible mark on both the West Indies and the USA. With ambitions to establish the West Indies and the USA as the ultimate hosts for future T20 World Cups, Baksh and his team are committed to ensuring that the event surpasses all expectations and cements its status as a global sporting extravaganza.
“We all wanted this tournament here, and we all want to capitalise on it,” Baksh said.
“When the tournament is over, people all across the world will say ‘T20 World Cup should only be hosted in the West Indies and the U.S.’.
“That’s our goal and that’s what we’re going to make it.”
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