ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Cricket fans in the United States of America will have a double treat this summer as the West Indies face New Zealand in two historic Twenty20 matches in Florida. The West Indies Cricket Board on Tuesday confirmed that the second half of the Digicel Series 2012 will commence in the North American country when the West Indies plays there for the first time.
The double header will be played on June 30 and July 1 at the 15,000 capacity Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.
The two teams will also play five ODIs and two Tests. The Digicel ODI Series will commence in Jamaica with two matches at Sabina Park and conclude in St Kitts at Warner Park which will host a triple header.
The First Digicel Test will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds while the teams will return to Jamaica for the second and final Digicel Test.
It will be the first time the SVRCG facility will host a Test match since 2009.
WICB Commercial Manager Nelecia Yeates commented: “We are delighted and excited to finally bring international cricket to the US. We are confident of overwhelming support for the matches especially from the West Indians resident in the US and Canada but also from the wider Asian communities in the US as well.”
“Our team is known globally as one of the most charismatic and entertaining teams, especially in the Twenty20 format and they will face strong competition from New Zealand so the matches are certain to be thrillers and we are ripe with anticipation,” Mrs Yeates added.
Digicel Series 2012 – West Indies v New Zealand Schedule
Digicel Twenty20 Series
June 30 – First Digicel Twenty20 – Central Broward Regional Park, Florida, USA
July 1 – Second Digicel Twenty20 – Central Broward Regional Park, Florida, USA
Digicel One Day International Series
July 5th – First Digicel ODI – Sabina Park, Jamaica
July 7th – Second Digicel ODI – Sabina Park, Jamaica
July 11th – Third Digicel ODI – Warner Park, St Kitts
July 14th – Fourth Digicel ODI – Warner Park, St Kitts
July 16th – Fifth Digicel ODI – Warner Park, St Kitts
July 20th – 22nd New Zealand Warm Up Game – Antigua (Opposition TBC)
Digicel Test Series
July 25th – 29th First Digicel Test – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds, Antigua
August 2nd – 6th Second Digicel Test – Sabina Park, Jamaica
Start times and match officials will be announced at a later date.
Dominica could have at least gotten one of those ODIs.
Thirtyfive minutes drive from our home in Hollywood my husband and myself will be there if God spare our lives beautiful park in Lauderhill.Bravooo
WHich hollywood that, Hollywood to Lauderhill is a measly 15 minutes.
See a lot of ignorance being posted on this, but it was the mayor of Lauderhill who went to St. Lucia a few years ago to bid for Broward County to host one of the 20/20 games but did not get his wish. It is what the Caribbean community wants,and we are happy to see it. It means alot for us, Broward County is truly our Caribbean base. Cricket lovely Cricket right in our backyard. Of course we will come out in large numbers, and maybe even get people from other States to come down just like they do for carnival. I know Elka’s Kitchen will be swinging.
How on earth will two twenty/20 matches in florida affect WI cricket? is not a test match nor a one day international, there are thousands of west indians living in florida,…let them have some fun too. I just hope mr GAYLE is playing, the world most dangerous twenty/20 batsman…
Will a national US team in basketball or football ever play competitively in the Caribbean?
Will the Knicks or the Giants ever play a game (even a practice match) in the Caribbean?
I think not.
Wrong move.
I guess you do not know anything about Broward Country and the number of Caribbean Nationals living there. This was a great move made a few years ago by a white Mayor who recognized the strength and the importance of the Caribbean culture. He could overlooked our culture and made us look like strangers but instead Broward County has embraced the Caribbean nationals. We are now part of the local municipalities as commissioners and representatives. I do not know of any other communities in the Unites States where this is possible. Way to go Broward County, Home to many Caribbean nationals. Home to the Caribbean Democratic Club, Home to many other Caribbean groups. We welcome this cricket match.
These two-game series which is part of the New Zealand tour of the West Indies,clearly tells us why West Indies cricket has fallen in the last 15 years. Is Florida part of the West Indies? Why try to develop cricket in the USA? THAT TO ME IS ANOTHER FOOLISH MOVE BY THE BOARD. They should these these games on our soil so our young people would be exposed to international talent.
When we were dominating world cricket in the 80’s the ICC used that same strategy to help promote cricket in Canada and the USA. At the end of the day, we were the loser as our pool of talent has droped significantly and we don’t have the means to bring back the fire.
When test teams are touring England, they don’t schedule a first class game in Rome, France or any of the neibouring counties. They don’t do that when teams are touring Australia, India, Newzeland or any of the other countries. They use internation teams to promote the game in their country! Why can we not do the same?
Right now countries like India, Australia, England are using T20 as a breeding ground for young players as they have leagus like the IPL where their nationals are exposed to international talents while we are using our opportunity to develop the game in the USA. Shame on us!
@As I see it – Hello to you sir/madam. I see you’re back again as a member of OPASH (Organisation of Pseudo-cricket Analysts & Sammy Haters) writing an exhortation of fire on the WICB and West Indies cricket……..
Just as an update to you – the West Indies and New Zealand cricket teams have been tasked by the ICC to assist in the further development of cricket in the US & Canada; England has been asked to help neighboring countries like Holland, Ireland, Scotland and other European countries; the Asian countries(India & Pakistan)assist upcoming nations like Afghanistan, Nepal, UAE etc; Australia assists Pacific countries such as Fiji & Papau New Guinea.
So take it easy poster by the name ‘As I see it’. About 2-3 years ago, New Zealand and Sri Lanka played a series at this same ground in Florida.
Channel 1, thanks for the update and I do want us to be clear on a few statements you made:
I DON’T HATE SAMMY. I do not even know him personally speaking and he sure has not done anything to me. I say things based on how I see them. I personally feel that making Sammy captain has weakened windies since he is not our best bowler and batting at number eight sure speaks of his poor batting skills. You just cannot be captain of a windies team anf after 24 games, has only managed one half century as your highest score, though he has taken 60 plus wicket with his very slow medium pace. I am use to captains that you can expect to take over and save their team on a regular basis-that’s not sammy. I don’t mind him being captain of the limited overs and T20, but sure not good enough to command a pick on the test team.
2. Concerning your opinion that 2 years ago, New Zeland and Sri Lanka played a series in here in Florida, I kow that and I attended both games. However, the difference is, it was not part of Nzeland touring Sri Lanka or Srilanka touring Nzeland. This one is part or Nzeland touring the caribbean and the first two games of that tour are played on foreign soil. That’s the point! Our people have been denied the opportunity to see their team play at home.
3. I do not have a problem with ICC working on promoting the game world wide but my point is, when we had an opportunity to develop our cricket in the caribbean since in the 80’s we had some of the beat players in the world who could be used to breed young talents from grassroots, we allowed the ICC to use our talent to help develop cricket in Canada and the USA, where we have no chance of benefitting. Infact is Pakistanese, Sri Lankans and Indians are the ones that profitted. For example, on the present Sri Lankan team, their is an all rounder by the last name Matthew, who is Sri lankand and lived and played his cricket in the USA.
In closing my friend, ICC has used their power and influence to kill our cricket. When Lance Gibbs was unplayerble, they passed rules to restrict the number of fielders close to the bat. When our four crown pace attack was asword against the best players in the world, they restricted the amount of bouncers in an over. Today we are trying to build back our game, they allowed the IPL to go through during our season so we can never get our best players on board. Windies is the only test team affected by IPL. So the way I see it is, they don’t want to see us up there again and will do everything to defeat us.
very ignorant statement. are you a west Indian? i have seen enough cricket in my life,, what’s wrong with branching out? other sports come to us, why can’t we dessiminate ours? stupes… the amount of west Indians in Florida is huge- how says is American we are marketing to? stupes..
I WILL JUST ASK THAT YOU DO SOME RESEARCH AND POST AN APOLOGY WHO EVER YOU ARE
I guess the Antiguans are happier now. I hope the stands will have people in it and not air.
Hope the fans turn out in large numbers…potential to add sponsors and thus more financial support for the lovely game.
Where is windsor park stadium – Dominica
i do hope that west indians will come out in large numbers to support the west indies team. wish i could make it there.
Why would they have a cricket match of this Magnitude played in the USA? Whoever is in charge do not think right. The matches should be played locally on the islands and as a result, local businesses will benefit from such an event. The US already has all the money they need and is very well developed. No businesses in the Caribbean will benefit from cricket being play in the USA. That is just pure nonsense and this is throwing more money to the US. Come on cricket board, “THINK RIGHT”!!!
Something must be really wrong with you. My friend the us have the biggest sports sponsors in the world. When nike becomes one of your sponsors then you have made it. I would love to see Shane Shillingford wearing nike gears. This is a way of getting into the USA market my friend. Our problem is we just think of today and not tomorrow.
How will getting into the US market benefit busineses in the Caribbean when the cricket is beeing play in Floriday. Let me know if you will see any local Caribbean vendors around the area the cricket is being played. You all have to understand the laws of the economy and how it works.
@ Eggleston: For a change, Caribbean Nationals who live in the US, will have the opportunity to watch the Windies play in living colours rather than on TV. Stop being so selfish and lets share the love. Think of all the nationals who live in the 50 states converging on Florida. It will be like a grand re-union for some of us who haven’t seen our friends and loved ones in a long time. However, I do understand your point.
I understand you, but just to let you know, must of you who live in the US are very well off. You all have made it in life. I see this move as just bringing more wealth to the US. Please let me know how local businesses in the Caribean will benefit from this match. Please let me know, that is all I am asking.
My boy The world is too small to be one sided,There are lots of West Indians and other cricketing nations in The USA for the game not to be played in the USA and China or any where ever.I think the sport should be marketed all over the world…
A good move by the West Indies and New Zealand Cricket Boards to continue the spread of cricket into the potential US market.
This falls nicely into the International Cricket Council quest to spread and grow cricket in new lucrative markets such as the USA, China, Africa and South America; hence cricket development programs are currently operating in these potential markets.
Too many matches in J/a man. Is dey alone dat in de Caribbean then. stupes!
am… hello, J/a cried when they didn’t get any Aussie match. so be fair
Great news! the park was built especially for this a few years ago but did not win any bid. Great stuff!