World Cup Fever Hits Houston: U.S., Bangladesh, Nepal Clash at Prairie View

U.S. Cricket Gears Up for World Cup with Matches at Prairie View Cricket Complex

The U.S. Men's National Cricket Team is getting ready for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a series of practice matches against Bangladesh and Nepal this week at the Prairie View Cricket Complex. This is a big deal for the U.S. team and the local cricket community.

Bangladesh Series and Local Showcase

The U.S. will play Bangladesh three times, starting Tuesday and continuing through Thursday and Saturday. This is the second warmup series for the U.S. at Prairie View, following their matches against Canada in April. Notably, this will be the first ever cricket match between the U.S. and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Nepal will play two exhibition matches against the Houston Hurricanes, a local minor league cricket team. This is a chance for both teams to practice before the World Cup, with Nepal having played the Hurricanes in a friendly match in 2022.

Large Crowds Expected, Especially for Bangladesh

Tickets for the U.S.-Bangladesh matches are $15 each, a difference from the free Canada series tickets. Organizers are expecting significantly larger crowds, with some predicting at least 2,000 people for the Saturday match. The Nepal-Hurricanes matches will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, with ticket prices to be determined based on interest.

Houston's Growing Cricket Community

The excitement surrounding these matches reflects the growing popularity of cricket in Houston, especially among the Nepalese community estimated at 10,000-15,000 people. The Nepalese Association of Houston is planning a meet-and-greet with the Nepal team after Wednesday's match.

World Cup Preview and U.S. Debut

All three teams – U.S., Bangladesh, and Nepal – will participate in the 2024 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States and West Indies. The U.S. team is ranked 19th in the T20 World Rankings, while Bangladesh is ranked 9th and features Shakib Al Hasan, the world's top-ranked T20 all-rounder. Nepal is ranked 17th.

The U.S. will play in Group A, while Nepal and Bangladesh are in Group D. They will face each other on June 16 in Kingstown, Saint Vincent. This World Cup will be the first for the U.S., while Nepal is returning after an eight-year absence.