The first international matches played in the United States by full International Cricket Council nations will take place at Lauderhill, near Miami, from May 20 to 23, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said Friday.
“We have the experience and capacity to help develop the game of cricket in the US We are looking at ways of helping USA Cricket grow the game both professionally and at the grassroots,” Vaughan said in a statement.
“This T20 series is the first of many initiatives between our two cricket boards and we envisage the Black Caps playing in the US on an annual basis.” The series will follow the World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies, which ends on May 16.
The 20-overs-per-team matches will be played at the Central Broward County Regional Park Cricket Stadium on May 20, 22 and 23.
News of an alliance between the New Zealand and US cricketing bodies was first announced in February.
USA Cricket chief executive Donald Lockerbie said the series would help cricket in the United States grow and develop.
“We want to demonstrate to the American public just how exciting the T20 format is,” Lockerbie said. “Cricket is already popular here but has lacked major media coverage.
This inaugural series is the first step to reverse this situation.” Gladstone Dainty, president of USA Cricket, said the sport had about 15 million followers in the United States.
“The historic event will provide great exposure for cricket with some of the world's top players will be on show here,” he said.
