• Sportzyverse
• T20 World Cup 2024
• 05/31/2024
• 0 Comments

With the T20 World Cup set to begin on June 1, India’s cricket team, except for Virat Kohli, who departed late Thursday evening, has already gathered in New York. Their first practice session took place at Cantiague Park on Wednesday afternoon. However, the session was marred by dissatisfaction from captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid over the “average” training facilities provided.

Concerns Raised Over Practice Facilities

India’s preparation for the World Cup started on a less-than-ideal note. The team, which will start their campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, found the training facilities at Cantiague Park to be inadequate. The players utilized three of the six available drop-in pitches, but according to a report by News18, both Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid were unhappy with the makeshift arrangements. Concerns were also raised about the quality of food provided at the venue, prompting the BCCI to address the issue with the ICC.

A source close to the team expressed the dissatisfaction, stating, “Everything is makeshift – from pitches to other facilities. Safe to say everything is very average in nature. The team has raised their concerns.”

In response to the raised concerns, the ICC claimed that no formal complaints had been made. “There has been no complaint or concern expressed regarding the practice facilities at Cantiague Park by any team,” an ICC representative stated.

Ongoing Training Challenges

India’s T20 World Cup squad will be using the makeshift venue in New York for a significant portion of the group stage. They have three group-stage matches scheduled in the city – against Ireland, Pakistan, and co-hosts USA – before moving to Florida for their final group match against Canada.

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the primary venue for these matches, lacks a dedicated training ground. This has necessitated the transformation of Cantiague Park into an official practice venue. However, the temporary nature of these arrangements has not met the high standards expected by the Indian team.

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This situation is far from ideal for the Indian team, which last played a T20I match in January during a home series against Afghanistan. The players, coming fresh off their campaigns in the IPL 2024, need optimal conditions to transition back to international T20 cricket. The concerns over practice facilities add an unnecessary layer of complication to their preparations.

India is set to play a warm-up match against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium before their World Cup opener. Despite the challenges, the team will need to adapt quickly to ensure they are in top form for the tournament.