By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
New York officials are gearing up for an event described as the "Super Bowl on steroids" as thousands of fans converge on Nassau County for the highly anticipated India Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup group stage this Sunday.
Known for one of the most intense rivalries in sports, the clash between India and Pakistan is set to take place in a temporary 34,000 seat stadium in East Meadow, New York. The stadium will be filled to capacity, with millions more viewers tuning in on television.
"India vs. Pakistan is like the Super Bowl on steroids. We had no idea how huge it was," remarked Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. "We want to put our best foot forward."
To ensure safety, an extensive security effort has been mobilized, involving personnel from all levels in the region working together in Nassau County, which borders New York City. Last week, New York state governor Kathy Hochul announced increased security measures for the World Cup, particularly in response to threats related to the India Pakistan match.
"I found her remarks refreshing," Blakeman said. "I'm very confident that this is a safe environment if it wasn't, then I wouldn't hold it." The last time the two sides played a test match was before the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The cheapest ticket for Sunday's match was listed at $790 on StubHub as of Monday afternoon.
Operations ran smoothly on Monday with tight security around the stadium as it hosted the first of eight matches. South Africa triumphed over Sri Lanka by six wickets. The United States, co hosting the tournament with the West Indies, is also staging matches in Texas and Florida, aiming to attract American fans to cricket ahead of its return to the Olympic program in 2028.
The 12,562 fans in attendance in New York on Monday enjoyed a lively atmosphere, with many immigrants experiencing the thrill of watching their national teams play cricket on U.S. soil for the first time.
"Literally a dream come true. One would never expect cricket to be here but like you see so many fans out here," said Shehan Perera, 27, who moved to the U.S. from Sri Lanka when he was 14 years old. "There's a demand for cricket anywhere. If there's an event, we're going to show up."