US envoy hosts Pakistan cricket team in display of support ahead of T20 World Cup

Celina Ali

Islamabad: United States (US) Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome this week held a meet-and-greet session with the Pakistan cricket team at the US embassy in Islamabad in a display of support for the ‘Green Shirts’ ahead of the highly anticipated Twenty20 World Cup 2024.

The development came amid Pakistan’s preparations for the mega event that will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the US in June.

Ambassador Blome welcomed the Pakistan team and cricket board chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, at his residence and extended his best wishes for the matches in the US.

“In dual gestures of sports diplomacy, Ambassador Blome presented the team members with a commemorative embassy cricket ball and autographed softball bat,” the US embassy said in a statement.

“The Pakistani team reciprocated by presenting the Ambassador with a signed cricket bat and team jersey.”

The US envoy later participated in an impromptu cricket demonstration with members of the Pakistan side.

Both Pakistan and the US have been slated to play within the same group stage and will compete in a highly anticipated game scheduled for June 6.

Organizers of the T20 World Cup games in the US have said that early ticket sales showed there was a huge demand for the sport in the country.

The highly anticipated clash in New York between cricket rivals Pakistan and India was over-subscribed by 200 times in the public ballot for tickets, the International Cricket Council said in Feb.

The 34,000-seat temporary venue, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island, is already assured of a sell-out crowd for the June 9 encounter.