Nassau County was buzzing with excitement on Saturday as cricket fans gathered to witness the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup being played in their midst. For many attendees like Zakaria Masud from Smithtown, it was a dream come true to be able to watch cricket – let alone a World Cup match – in the USA, in New York.
Long Islanders who immigrated to the United States decades ago also expressed their joy at being able to watch cricket in person, some for the first time since leaving their home countries. Aurin Chakraborty from Port Jefferson shared that the experience was an incredible feeling that was out of this world.
Some fans, like Karan Nalmalhodra, even traveled from India to witness the historic event in the U.S. He marveled at the fact that a cricket stadium had been built in just three months for the tournament, showing the growth and popularity of the sport on a global scale.
On Saturday, India battled against Bangladesh in a test match, providing fans with a glimpse of the action and allowing law enforcement to make necessary security adjustments ahead of the first official match on Monday. Nassau police reported that the day ran smoothly and expressed confidence in their security measures for the upcoming games.