Saint Lucia gears up for ICC T20 World Cup, Daren Sammy Ground gets major upgrades

Saint Lucia continues to make preparations for hosting matches in the upcoming International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup to be staged in the Caribbean and the United States of America.

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground is under significant renovations and upgrades. The facility is due to be handed over to the ICC on May 15 2024. The first game there will see Australia taking on Scotland in a Group B encounter on June 15, match 35. 

The ground is known for its electric atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities and not only honors a local legend but also serves as a premier venue for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Opened in 2002, the cricket hub has hosted spectacular day/night matches under the Caribbean stars.

It is being anticipated that the ground will serve as the perfect location to host the highly anticipated cricket matches. 

It is to be noted that Saint Lucia‘s reigning Sportsman for the Year, Johnson Charles, has been selected in a 15-member squad by the Cricket West Indies Selection Panel for the upcoming International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup.

The player will be making his fourth appearance at this global event, having played in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2016 (India), and 2022 (Australia). The panel released the 15 players for the ninth ICC T20 World Cup at a News Conference in Barbados. The tournament will be played in the United States of America and the West Indies from June 1 to 29.

Charles was a member of the team that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012 and India in 2016, with Daren Sammy as captain. The West Indies’ campaign to win an unprecedented third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title starts on June 2, when they take on Papua New Guinea at Providence Stadium, Guyana.

Rovman Powell leads the West Indies in his first World Cup as captain, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph as vice-captain. The other players selected are Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.

The schedule of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches to be held in Saint Lucia is as follows:

• Australia vs Scotland in Group B on June 15, 2024, in Match 35
• England South Africa Group A match on June 18, 2024, in Match 42
• India vs New Zealand in a Super 12 match on June 22, 2024, in Match 49
• Pakistan vs West Indies in a Super 12 showdown on June 25, 2024, in Match 55
• The semi-final match is scheduled to be played on July 5, 2024, in Match 64