Officials from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and organizers of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup matches in the United States have expressed confidence that the drop-in turf pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will meet world-class standards.
The 34,000-seat temporary stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, east of Manhattan, is set to host eight World Cup matches, including a highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on June 9.
Chris Tetley, Head of Events at the ICC, praised the efforts to construct the facility, which includes a full-sized outfield with dimensions comparable to major international venues. “We are around about as big as The Gabba (in Australia), or The Oval (in England), or Wankhede Stadium (in India) in terms of playing area,” Tetley noted.
The stadium, a temporary structure, will revert to a municipally accessible park after the tournament concludes. Tetley highlighted the lasting benefits of the project, emphasizing the creation of a “world-class international playing facility with drainage and irrigation” that will serve the local cricket community. “The ground can continue to be played on by cricketers in the community,” he added. “The space that we’ve updated for training will also remain, so there is a great legacy and cricket infrastructure at the end of it.”
Four drop-in turf pitches at the stadium
In addition to the four drop-in turf pitches at the stadium, six more have been installed in nearby practice facilities. Damian Hough, pitch curator from Adelaide Oval, was responsible for developing these pitches and overseeing their transportation from Australia to the venue via Florida. “Two and a half weeks out from the first game, we’re happy and have nothing to worry about,” Hough stated confidently. “There are no fears. Some of the best pitches in the world are drop-in pitches. We can build them anywhere.”
The facility received a special preview from several sports icons, including former West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose and Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. They were joined by a host of New York sports stars, such as former New York Knicks basketballer John Starks, former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, and former Major League Baseball pitcher Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon. World Cup-bound USA captain Monank Patel, his teammate Corey Anderson, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, and former England pacer Liam Plunkett were also present.
The temporary Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is poised to make history, not only by hosting high-profile matches but also by leaving a lasting legacy for cricket in the region.
 and organizers of the ICC Men's Twenty20 World Cup matches in the United States){kind=link}