The 2024 T20 World Cup kicked off with an impressive win for the USA against Canada in Dallas. The West Indies followed suit by hosting Papua New Guinea in Guyana as part of the Caribbean leg of the tournament. However, the lack of spectators and empty stands at the Providence Stadium left fans on social media outraged, with many criticizing the ICC for the low turnout.
While there was a decent turnout for a warm-up game between India and Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, concerns were raised about ticket prices and overall interest in the event. Despite being two-time champions of the T20 World Cup, the West Indies faced a tough challenge from PNG, with their match coming down to the wire before they secured a five-wicket win.
In Guyana, PNG struggled initially but managed to post a respectable score of 136 for eight thanks to key contributions from their players. The West Indies had a tough time chasing this target on a challenging pitch, with PNG bowlers making run-scoring difficult. Roston Chase and Andre Russell eventually led their team to victory, changing the momentum of the game in the final overs to secure it for themselves and their country.
