Colombo to host ICC's annual conference this July

Having held its annual conference in Durban in 2023, the International Cricket Council is slated to convene in Colombo this July for the same. The exact dates for the annual conclave haven't been finalized yet, but it's expected to occur in the third week of July, as reported by Cricbuzz. Given its scheduling right after the T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies, the meet-up holds due importance for obvious reasons.

The USA has been a major headache for global administrators due to various challenges, such as logistical issues, lack of infrastructure, legal complexities, and the need to expand the game's footprint in a largely untapped market. Additionally, ensuring the smooth conduct of tournaments in a non-traditional cricketing region like the USA poses unique challenges related to venue selection, player participation, fan engagement, and broadcasting arrangements. In the same vein, evaluation of the World Cup's performance, especially regarding challenges in the US, are deemed to be on the bucket list of the global administrators.

There might also be a decision made in terms of changing the term of the chairman. As per previous reports by Cricbuzz, there's a proposal to prolong the chairman's tenure from two to three years, along with cutting short the number of permitted terms from three to two. 

Also Read: Colin Munro potential for T20 World Cup squad, despite unavailability: Selection Manager Sam Wells

However, the focal point would most probably be about who the next chairman of the ICC would be, with Jay Shah being a potential candidate for the position, and trustworthy sources of the Board of Control for Cricket in India do not deny him putting his name forward for the role. The incumbent chairman of the ICC is Greg Barclay, who has been fixated on the role since 2020, previously being the chairman of New Zealand Cricket from 2016 to 2020.

In the interim, the ICC aims to get done with the cutting-edge modular Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, which is scheduled to play host to a total of eight T20 World Cup matches, with the high-octane India-Pakistan clash being the most highly-anticipated clash to occur on June 9, with the 34,000-seater sure to get jam-packed for arguably the biggest rivalry in world cricket. 

Also Read: Ben Stokes opts out of T20 World Cup 2024 selection

A drop-in square - much like the ones used in Adelaide Oval in Australia and Eden Park in New Zealand, currently being curated in Florida, which will be transported by road to New York in early May, will be used for matches occurring in the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, with the Central Broward Stadium in Florida and the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas having inbuilt turf wickets of their own.