Cricket Ireland Complains to ICC Over Hotel Issues [AP Photo]
Cricket Ireland has formally lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the poor treatment of their men’s team during the T20 World Cup 2024 in New York, USA.
The team, led by Paul Stirling, played two matches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, losing both encounters.
Accommodation Issues and Logistical Challenges
The primary grievance from Cricket Ireland revolves around substandard hotel accommodations. Initially, the team was scheduled to stay close to the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island.
However, two weeks before the tournament began, their accommodation was abruptly changed to a hotel in Brooklyn, resulting in a 90-minute commute to the stadium. This logistical change severely impacted the team’s preparations.
In stark contrast, Ireland’s competitor, India, was conveniently near the stadium. The long commute from Brooklyn led to the cancellation of at least one Irish training session.
Additionally, the team contemplated canceling a pre-match press conference to avoid the lengthy travel required for a player to meet media obligations.
Impact on Ireland’s Performance
The disruptions caused by the distant hotel accommodations contributed to Ireland’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.
They lost all their matches against Pakistan, India, and Canada, with their game against the USA being abandoned due to rain.
In their letter to the ICC, Cricket Ireland emphasized the logistical challenges and how these affected their performance.
A spokesperson for Cricket Ireland stated that they have provided “event feedback” to the ICC and plan to engage further once the tournament concludes. The spokesperson also mentioned that there are standard event debrief processes that they will contribute to.