Major blow for 2024 T20 World Cup organizers as Dominica pulls out of hosting games

The ICC had in September confirmed 10 venues in the West Indies and the US that will host the 2024 T20 World Cup matches.

Four T20 World Cup matches 2-24 were due to take place at Windsor Park in Dominica.

New Delhi: In a major setback for organizers, Dominica withdrew from hosting T20 World Cup 2024 matches, the Dominica government announced in a media statement on Thursday. The 2024 T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had announced the confirmed venues in September.

“The Government of Dominica has expressed its interest in hosting a number of these prestigious matches at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium (WPSS), and subsequently Dominica was shortlisted as the host nation for one match in the group stage and two matches in the Super 8 phase of the tournament, subject to the fulfillment of various obligations as set out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),” the release said.

“Several tangible actions have been taken at both Windsor Park Sports Stadium and Benjamin’s Park, including commencing the modernization and improvement of practice and match venues, various assessments and the construction of additional pitches where necessary.

The government of Dominica has withdrawn from hosting matches at the T20 World Cup pic.twitter.com/qxUXSwd1iT

— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) November 30, 2023

However, the implementation deadlines submitted by the various contractors showed that it would not be possible to complete this work within the specified period before the start of the tournament. “As a result, it was decided not to organize any of the matches in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as it would not be wise for the Government of Dominica to commit to hosting these matches,” it added.

The Windsor Park in Dominica was in talks to host the India-England encounter in addition to the semi-final. With Dominica withdrawing, the matches will likely be split between the nine other locations. The ICC on September 22 had confirmed Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Vincent, The Grenadines, Grand Prairie in Dallas, Broward County in Florida and Nassau County in New York as venues for T20 World Cup 2024.