T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan, England likely to miss warm-up matches

Pakistan and England are likely to miss their warm-up matches for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 set to take place in the USA and West Indies next month. 

This decision stems from both teams gearing up for a crucial four-match T20I series, slated to kick off on May 22nd and ends on May 30th.

Pakistan's journey begins in Dallas, where they will take on co-host USA on June 6, followed by matches against India on June 9 and Canada on June 12 in New York. Their final league match against Ireland is slated for June 16 in Florida.

Meanwhile, England will be stationed in the Caribbean for their initial games against Scotland and Australia on June 4 and 8 in Barbados. Their remaining league fixtures against Oman and Namibia are set for June 13 and 15 in Antigua.

According to a report from Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put forth a request for India’s warm-up game to be held in New York, aligning with the team's base. 

Initially, the ICC and Cricket West Indies (CWI) had proposed Florida as the venue. However, Indian players, dealing with fatigue from extensive travel and the rigorous Indian Premier League (IPL), are hesitant about the additional trip from New York to Florida and back.

The Indian team's original departure for New York on May 21 has been rescheduled, with players leaving in two batches on May 25 and 26. 

Those participating in the IPL final on May 26 will depart at a later date, ensuring a balanced preparation for the T20 World Cup.

The ICC will soon announce the schedule for these matches. Given that the multi-team tournament is set to start from 1st June, it is anticipated that the warm-up fixtures will take place around May 25th and 26th.