Usain Bolt Named Brand Ambassador for ICC T20 World Cup: Eyes Major Cricket Expansion in America
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced Olympic legend Usain Bolt as the brand ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place between 1st and 30th June 2024 in the West Indies and the United States.
Bolt’s Sporting Achievements
Eleven-time world champion Bolt hails from Jamaica, West Indies. He retired after the 2017 London World Championships. In his last tournament, he won a silver medal.
Bolt’s Enthusiasm for Cricket
Bolt expressed his excitement about becoming the brand ambassador for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He stated that cricket always holds a special place in his heart, and he is eager to support the West Indies’ matches in the World Cup and contribute to the development of cricket globally. Supporting West Indies in cricket with enthusiasm is a significant step forward, especially for cricket in the United States. This is a big deal for cricket, the world’s largest sports market, and including cricket in the LA Olympics in 2028 is a great move.
Bolt’s Record-breaking Sprinting Career
Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meters and 200 meters sprints. He completed the 100 meters race in 9.58 seconds and the 200 meters in 19.19 seconds, setting both as world records. Bolt won 8 gold medals in three Olympics, including 2 in Beijing 2008, and 3 each in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Cricket Career of Bolt
Due to his love for cricket, Bolt began his career in athletics. He played cricket and football with his brother during his childhood in Jamaica. At the age of 12, he realized his potential in athletics, but he couldn’t excel in every sport he tried.
Coaching Guidance and Transition to Sprinting
One day, Bolt’s cricket coach observed his speed on the pitch and advised him to try sprinting. Taking his coach’s advice, Bolt began sprint training. He competed for Jamaica in the Caribbean Regional Championships at the age of 15 and won silver medals in the 400 meters and 200 meters events.
Bolt’s Contribution to the Official Song of the World Cup
As an ambassador, Bolt will play a major role in promoting the event by starting with the release of the official song video alongside singers Sia and Kes. The winner of eight Olympic gold medals will also participate in fan events in West Indies during the T20 World Cup matches and in the United States.
Opening Match between Canada and the USA
The tournament’s opening match will be between Canada and the home team USA. This match will be held in Dallas on the first of June. West Indies will play their first match against Papua New Guinea in Guyana on June 2nd. The tournament will consist of 20 teams playing 55 matches over 29 days, making it the largest T20 World Cup in history.
Matches in the West Indies and the USA
West Indies and the USA are jointly hosting the T20 World Cup. West Indies will host 41 matches in six cities, including three knockout matches. The remaining 14 matches will be held in New York, Florida, and Dallas in the USA. The six cities in the West Indies are Trinidad, Guyana, Barbados, Antigua, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia.
All India-Pakistan Matches to be held in the USA
India and Pakistan will be placed in the same group for the T20 World Cup. Ireland, Canada, and the USA will also be in this group. All matches between India and Pakistan will be played in the USA.
Schedule of Matches
India’s first three matches will be held in New York, and the fourth match will be in Florida. The team will face Ireland on June 5th, Pakistan on June 9th, the USA on June 12th, and Canada on June 15th.
Top Two Teams from Each Group Advance
Each group, A, B, C, and D, consists of five teams. Each team will play four matches in their group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 stage, where eight teams will be divided into four groups of two. The top two teams from each group will then advance to the semifinals, and the winners will compete in the final on June 29th in Barbados.
First ICC Tournament in the USA
For the first time, the ICC tournament will be hosted in the USA. This is in conjunction with the 2028 Olympics, which will also include cricket. The inclusion of cricket in the LA Olympics prompted ICC to prioritize hosting the T20 World Cup in the USA. The last World Cup was held in Australia in 2022.
