ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Yuvraj Singh appointed ambassador

Yuvraj will join Chris Gayle and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt as the ambassadors for the tournament

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced former Indian batter Yuvraj Singh as another ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Yuvraj will join Chris Gayle and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt as the ambassadors for the tournament.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will commence in the USA and the West Indies on June 1.

Yuvraj Singh’s duties as an ambassador will be to promote the sport and attend a range of World Cup promotional events in the United States in the lead-up to the tournament. The Southpaw will also have a lot of promotional activities ahead of the marquee India vs Pakistan match in New York on June 9.

Yuvraj took the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 by storm when he smashed Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in Durban, after being sledged by Andrew Flintoff. India went on to win the game and the tournament, which was MS Dhoni’s first ICC trophy.

Speaking about his appointment as an ambassador, Yuvraj Singh said the showpiece event always rekindles his memory of the six sixes he hit and said he was elated to be a part of the upcoming edition. “Some of my fondest cricketing memories have come from playing at the T20 World Cup, including hitting six sixes in an over, so it’s very exciting to be part of this edition, which is set to be the biggest one yet,” he said, in a statement released by the ICC.

He said he was privileged to be part of the sports advent and growth in the USA. “The West Indies is a great place to play cricket, with the fans coming to watch creating a vibe that is completely unique to that part of the world, while cricket is also expanding in the USA, and I’m excited to be part of that growth through the T20 World Cup,” he added.

Speaking about the marquee India vs Pakistan clash, Yuvraj said he was fortunate to be a part of it and witness the best of players playing in a new stadium. “India’s clash against Pakistan in New York is going to be one of the biggest sporting fixtures in the world this year, so it’s a privilege to be a part of and to witness the best players in the world playing in a new stadium,” he concluded in the statement.

The T20 World Cup will be played from June 1 to 29, with co-hosts USA taking on Canada in the opening match at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas. A total of 55 matches will be played by 20 teams across nine venues, culminating in the final on June 29 in Barbados.

The first match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the host for the India vs Pakistan match on June 9, will be played on June 3 between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Ten teams will feature in eight matches at Nassau County Stadium in New York.