Windies to play in the USA

(WICB) ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Cricket fans in the United States of America will have a double treat this summer as the West Indies face New Zealand in two historic Twenty20 matches in Florida. The West Indies Cricket Board on Tuesday confirmed that the second half of the Digicel Series 2012 will commence in the North American country when the West Indies plays there for the first time.

The double header will be played on June 30 and July 1 at the 15,000 capacity Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.

The two teams will also play five ODIs and two Tests. The Digicel ODI Series will commence in Jamaica with two matches at Sabina Park and conclude in St Kitts at Warner Park which will host a triple header.

The First Digicel Test will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds while the teams will return to Jamaica for the second and final Digicel Test.

It will be the first time the SVRCG facility will host a Test match since 2009.

WICB Commercial Manager Nelecia Yeates commented: “We are delighted and excited to finally bring international cricket to the US. We are confident of overwhelming support for the matches especially from the West Indians resident in the US and Canada but also from the wider Asian communities in the US as well.”

“Our team is known globally as one of the most charismatic and entertaining teams, especially in the Twenty20 format and they will face strong competition from New Zealand so the matches are certain to be thrillers and we are ripe with anticipation,” Mrs Yeates added.