2024 Cricket World Cup on Long Island - Special Coverage (2024)

Join News 12 for wicket to wicket coverage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup! Get all the highlights of the intense international cricket battles plus stories on the customs, community and the culture that make this one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

Celebrate the spirit of Cricket in our local communities now though June 12 right here on News 12.

Young cricket players on Long Island got to learn what it takes to be part of a World Cup team.

The Cricket World Cup was back at Eisenhower Park on Wednesday, with India defeating Ireland by eight wickets.

Stores that sell cricket equipment hope the boost of world cup excitement will boost their sales too. News 12's Kevin Maher spot with Sanjeez Rahull the owner of JR Sporting Goods in Floral Park.

Cricket 101: How do you the game? News 12’s Kevin Maher found some new friends to explain the game.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is bringing some big bucks to some Long Island business owners but a "wait and see" approach for others. Business owners who spoke with News 12 Monday said they are hoping to see more crowds over the coming days.

The first Cricket World Cup match in Nassau County ended with South Africa defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets with 22 balls left.

It was largely smooth sailing for attendees of Monday’s Cricket World Cup match in Nassau County. Some attendees opted to drive to the Nassau Coliseum parking lot. Most then walked to the match or took buses.

A West Hempstead family that will be in the stands is used to playing the sport, not watching it.

The Ramsaroop family's history with the sport dates back to the 1980s.

Lennie Ramsaroop says he would have never expected to see in his lifeltime professional cricket being played in New York.

He immigrated to New York from Guyana in 1978 and brought his favorite sport with him - cricket.

There was lots of enthusiasm from cricket fans in Eisenhower Park – some disbelief too that the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is being played in Nassau County.

"This is a dream come true. I can watch cricket – World Cup in the USA, in New York... I am so excited," said Smithtown resident Zakaria Masud.

Fans are hoping they can make their dreams come true by scoring a last-minute ticket.

"It's like my dream, you know,” said Bankaj Dudd, of Hicksville. "We are looking to buy tickets for the match and try to meet with the players if we can."

The T20 Cricket World Cup will be playing games in Nassau County, and businesses near the Eisenhower Park stadium are hoping to cash in.

Prices for Cricket World Cup tickets are skyrocketing on the secondary market.

News 12's Kurt Semder found out what some fans are willing to pay and how to avoid getting scammed for those still searching for tickets.

If you are driving in the area where the Cricket World Cup will take place, there will be several road closures.

Several streets in and around Eisenhower Park will be shut down.

Officials say Eisenhower Park will be closed to the public from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the Cricket World Cup.

The closures include Park Boulevard and portions of Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Merrick Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike between Merrick Avenue and Park Boulevard.

Spectators are urged to use mass transit, and the MTA says dozens of extra stops will be made at Westbury.

Thousands of Long Island cricket fans got to check out the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium ahead of the start of the Cricket World Cup.

News 12's Jon Dowding was at Eisenhower Park days before the tournament starts.

Several Long Islanders have been heading to Cantiague Park in Hicksville, hoping to catch a glimpse of some famous cricket players.

Piyush Sharma, of Bethpage, said it was a big deal that the World Cup was being held in New York.

Brijesh Bhavsar, of Roslyn, said, "It's very exciting."

Elite athletes were checked out the new stadium for the 2024 Cricket World Cup.

Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, who is an ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, says cricket is upbeat, exciting and growing in popularity in the United States.

News 12 received an exclusive first look at the Long Island stadium that will host eight games at this year's Cricket World Cup.

John Sulinski, and his Long Island-based company Landtek, installed the field and the main pitch where the cricket matches will be played. Getting the right type of grass for the historic event was no easy feat.

"This job in our backyard was special,” he said. "Twenty-two tractor-trailers to take the trip from Florida to New York. These trays are approximately 10 x 82 feet long weighing approximately anywhere from 16 to 18 tons a piece."

A world-class event deserves world-class sod – and that’s exactly what the Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park will have.

Nearly 200,000 pounds of sod made the long journey from Boynton Beach, Florida to Nassau County, as workers began installing it in April at the 34,000-seat temporary cricket stadium being constructed for the event.