In a significant development for cricket, Dominica has officially withdrawn from hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The basis of this decision lies in the inability of the nation to complete the necessary preparations for the practice and match venues before the prestigious tournament’s start.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which carries high expectations for excitement and competition, will be co-hosted by the USA alongside seven Caribbean nations. Initially, Dominica was among those chosen as host locations, standing alongside other hosting nations such as Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
It was, however, a recent report by ESPNcricinfo that brought to light Dominica’s challenging situation. After carefully evaluating the progress of construction work at Windsor Park—one of the slated venues—it became evident that the projects would not reach completion within the necessary timeframe.
The government of Dominica issued a statement elaborating on its course of action, “Several tangible actions were taken both at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium and at the Benjamin’s Park. This included the commencement of upgrading and enhancement of the practice and match venues, various assessments and the creation of additional pitches where necessary.” Despite these measures, contractor timelines pointed toward an impossible race against time to finish the upgrades before the competition begins.
Acknowledging these limitations, the government made the tough call to pull out as a host: “The implementation timelines submitted by the various contractors revealed that it would not be possible to complete these works within the stipulated time frame before the commencement of the tournament. As a result, a decision was taken not to host any of the matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 as it would not be prudent for the Government of Dominica to commit to hosting these games.”
This decision is not taken lightly, as Dominica prides itself on its history of hosting international cricket events. The government’s intention is to maintain the nation’s sterling reputation as it decides, considering the risks and uncertainties, to opt-out rather than compromising on quality or readiness.
The statement further reads, “In light of Dominica’s sterling reputation in hosting international cricket, this decision is considered to be in the best interest of all. The Government of Dominica thanks Cricket West Indies (CWI) for its partnership over the years and looks forward to continued collaboration in the future.” In extending their best wishes, Dominica’s government underscores its commitment to the sport and expresses hope for a successful tournament come June 2024.
As preparations continue for this global event, this news will undoubtedly shuffle the logistics and planning involving the remaining host nations. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is one of the cricketing calendar’s highlights, and meticulous attention to infrastructure, facilities, and operational excellence is key to its success, calling for all partner countries to be well-prepared to welcome teams and fans from around the world.
What remains clear is Dominica’s intention to maintain strong ties with cricket’s governing bodies and its determination to support the game’s growth and success internationally, even if that means making difficult decisions in the short term for the long-term benefit of cricket in Dominica and beyond.