There will be 55 matches in this month’s ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup, but one match on the schedule is attracting the most attention: India vs Pakistan.
The much-anticipated encounter between the two teams, geographic neighbours and long-time cricketing rivals, will be played at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Here are some things New Jersey cricket fans need to know about this highly anticipated showdown.
India vs Pakistan Cricket History
India and Pakistan have long had tensions ever since the then British colony was partitioned into the two countries in 1947. The political tensions have spilled over into the sporting world, with cricket fans putting immense pressure on their teams to win.
India has had the upper hand in head-to-head matches against Pakistan, having won eight of the 12 matches in the T20 format of the tournament since 2000. Most recently, India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the 2022 World Cup, but Pakistan lost to England in the final.
India enter this Sunday’s match having comfortably beaten Ireland on Wednesday, while Pakistan lost to the US team on Thursday.
Who plays for the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams?
The Indian team is led by captain Rohit Sharma and features star players like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, while the Pakistan team is led by captain Babar Azam and features key players like Mohammed Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi.
Former players from both teams had some thoughts on the outcome of the upcoming match.
Shahid Afridi, father-in-law of Shaheen Afridi, who played for Pakistan between 1996 and 2016, said in a column published by the ICC on Wednesday that the Pakistan-India match is “like our Super Bowl”.
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“Against India it will be about how well we handle the pressure. Both the teams are blessed with talent so we just need to perform well on the day of the match,” Afridi said.
Yuvraj Singh, who played for India from 2000 to 2017, said at the opening of the T20 World Cup Fan Park at the World Trade Centre on June 1 that the match would be similar to previous encounters between the two teams and would be emotional for both sides, but the more calm team would prevail.
“I always feel that the team that manages their emotions well on the day and stays focused on the match situation will win the match. We have performed better than Pakistan in the last few years and hopefully we can continue that,” Singh said.
How to watch the India vs Pakistan Cricket World Cup match
Tickets for Sunday’s game are still available, but they will be expensive.
The ICC T20 Men’s World Cup webpage lists tickets for sale only for seats in the stadium’s premier section, with prices ranging from $1,500 for the Boundary Club area to $10,000 for the Diamond Club.
more:Get a first-hand look at what public transportation to the Cricket World Cup on Long Island is like
Ticket broker Stubhub is selling slightly cheaper tickets, but the cheapest ticket found on its website on Friday was $628, with some tickets going for as much as $4,050.
The cricket stadium gates open at 8:30 am
The cricket stadium gates open at 8:30am. There is a car park close to the stadium, but you must purchase a parking pass before match day to enter the car park.
The best way for New Jersey fans to avoid the traffic is to take the Long Island Railroad train from Penn Station in Manhattan to Huntington and get off at the Westbury station (45 minutes).
Unfortunately, this game is sold out at the World Trade Center’s public fan park, where the game will be broadcast on a giant screen; however, there will be a viewing party for the game at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford, not far from the stadium. Otherwise, cable TV is your best option.
Willow TV is the only cable network that will broadcast the World Cup in the U.S. and Canada. Television providers that will carry Willow TV include DISH, Sling, FIOS, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum and Optimum TV.
Security Measures for India vs Pakistan World Cup Cricket Match
Nassau County officials announced at a press conference on Thursday that security would be stepped up at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford due to a viewing party for the India vs Pakistan match.
Officials said visitors will be allowed to bring bags, coolers and chairs, but security checkpoints will be set up throughout the park.
This comes after Police Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder, at a press conference on Wednesday before the start of the World Cup, said there had been threats against the World Cup in April from a group linked to the terrorist organisation ISIS-K. This was followed by more specific threats calling for “lone wolf” attacks against the India-Pakistan match.
“We continue to monitor our activities. We are looking at the information that our partners are sharing with us. We are looking at the information and I have to say we are really on top of it,” Ryder said Thursday.
The following security measures remain in place at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium for all matches played there:
- Bags are not allowed inside the stadium, and flying drones in the airspace is also prohibited.
- Attendees will have to pass through a metal detector upon entering the stadium.
- Eisenhower Park, where the stadium is located, will be off-limits to the public from 6am to 6pm during the World Cup, and several roads around the park will also be closed.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration and culture for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the most important news in your local community, subscribe now or activate your digital account.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ricardokaul
