Former Cricket West Indies director, Baldath Mahabir, has voiced concerns about the growing influence of the United States cricket market and its potential impact on the long-term sustainability of cricket in the Caribbean.
Mahabir’s apprehensions come as the United States is set to co-host the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup alongside the Caribbean in June, with a significant number of matches scheduled to be played in American cities such as Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and New York.
Mahabir pointed out that the United States possesses several advantages that make it an attractive destination for major cricket tournaments, including easy travel, modern stadiums, accommodation, transportation, and support services. He even envisioned a future where the United States and Canada could jointly host major ICC tournaments.
Potential threats to the Caribbean cricket market
He highlighted the upcoming marquee clashes set to take place in the United States, such as India and South Africa playing three games each in New York, as potential threats to the Caribbean cricket market. Mahabir emphasized that while some visitors may come to the Caribbean for its beaches and cultural attractions, the region must enhance its cricket product and infrastructure to remain competitive.
The United States and Canada will open the T20 World Cup on June 1, 2024, marking one of the oldest clashes in the sport’s history. India, the world’s top-ranked team, will play all their Group A matches in the United States, including a highly-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9.
Mahabir expressed concern about Jamaica’s reluctance to bid for hosting T20 World Cup matches, given its significance in Caribbean cricket history. He suggested that the decline of interest in cricket, especially the longer formats, might be influencing such decisions.
Opportunity for the country to shine
Regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s allocation of matches, Mahabir acknowledged the opportunity for the country to shine, particularly with the Brian Lara Cricket Academy hosting five matches, including the Group C contest between hosts West Indies and New Zealand on June 12 and the second semi-final on June 27.
Mahabir remained optimistic about the West Indies’ chances in the T20 World Cup, citing T20 cricket as a format where the team could excel, especially when playing at home. He emphasized the need for innovative leadership and believed that, with good fortune and injury-free players, the West Indies had a strong chance of performing well in the tournament.
