Florida rains: 'Life-threatening floods' cast shadow over T20 WC 2024, fans urge ICC to shift matches (WATCH)

By Sunita IyerFirst Published Jun 13, 2024, 11:38 AM IST
Highlights

Fans are urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move the T20 World Cup 2024 matches out of Florida due to flash flood warnings in the US state.

Fans are urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move the T20 World Cup 2024 matches out of Florida due to flash flood warnings in the US state. Torrential rains battered South Florida on Wednesday, prompting officials to warn residents to avoid "life-threatening flooding" in some of the state's most populous areas.

The National Weather Service in Miami advised residents to stay indoors, avoid traveling, and steer clear of hazardous moving waters. Flood warnings for parts of four South Florida counties, including Miami-Dade, are in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday.

The condition in Florida.

- India Vs Canada, Ireland Vs USA and Pakistan Vs Ireland are set to take place in Lauderhill, Florida. pic.twitter.com/11zPRpVovX

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)

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The heavy downpour is disrupting air travel in the region. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport reported that its entrances and exits were flooded.

By Wednesday evening, 284 flights in and out of that airport had been canceled. Meanwhile, Miami International Airport saw a combined total of 326 cancellations, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Güney Florida pic.twitter.com/pTwUHWatXC

— METEOROLOJİ BEY (@MeteorolojiBey)

: Florida Government DeSantis has declared state of emergency for Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Sarasota counties due to major flooding. pic.twitter.com/3t8155jaEW

— upuknews (@upuknews1)

As of late Wednesday afternoon, various locations across the region had recorded over half a foot of rain in the past 48 hours: 11.28 inches at Fort Lauderdale Airport, 7.49 inches at Miami Airport, 8 inches in Fort Myers, and 7.74 inches in Sarasota.

The continuous hours of rain have made pumps nearly ineffective, as there is nowhere for the excess water to be directed.

Numerous images and videos of the waterlogged city have surfaced on social media, showing streets submerged in water. With ongoing heavy rain and flood warnings, fans are calling for the ICC to relocate the remaining games scheduled in Florida to New York or Dallas.

: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for South Florida on Wednesday evening, after 24 hours of inclement weather with periods of heavy rain and flooding. pic.twitter.com/uZP85pHJTG

— upuknews (@upuknews1)

A tropical rainstorm has delivered 17 inches of rain in the last 24 hours across South Florida, prompting a flash flood emergency near Miami and the closure of I-95. pic.twitter.com/k8q43xxQr2

— AccuWeather (@accuweather)

: Flood Situation at Hallandale Beach, Miami, Florida.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood emergency for Hallandale Beach and surrounding areas, warning of life-threatening flash flooding.

Residents are advised to stay off the roads and seek higher… pic.twitter.com/y2ucN2Np2z

— upuknews (@upuknews1)

Americans 🇺🇸 were making fun of Dubai having floods.

Now look at their shitty cities. It is flooding in Florida now. Too bad, too sad suckas! pic.twitter.com/BXjTgQE7q9

— Vigilante𝕏 (@SAFExcellence)

Three more matches are scheduled to be played at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, on June 14, 15, and 16. Two of these Group A matches are crucial for the tournament, with the USA and Pakistan's qualification for the Super 8 at stake.

Co-hosts USA will face Ireland on June 14 in a vital Group A clash. A win for the USA would secure their place in the Super 8 stage. Even if the match is washed out, Monank Patel's team will advance to the next round with five points from four matches.

A washout would be detrimental to Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the next round, as they are currently in third place on the points table with only one win from three matches, totaling two points. The Babar Azam-led side is heavily reliant on Ireland to defeat the USA in their final fixture to stay in contention for the Super 8.

If Ireland manages to beat the USA, Pakistan will also need to win their last game against the same opponent on June 16. Therefore, the 2009 champions cannot afford for their final match to be washed out, as it would result in their elimination from the tournament.

Pakistan began their campaign with a shocking super over loss to the USA. In their second fixture, they failed to chase a modest target of 120, losing the match by six runs. Thus, inclement weather in Florida would not only dampen the tournament's excitement but also pose a significant hurdle in the ICC’s efforts to promote cricket in the USA.

Don't know what objective the has achieved by scheduling all the washout games in Florida despite the flood warning 2 weeks ago. True promotors of cricket 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/89slST2t6R

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian)

Apparently a state of emergency has been declared in some parts of Florida. Can't ICC shift venue? pic.twitter.com/ISu8bH5QuQ

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)

Even Naseem Shah was forced to delete this story. Dear if you are real promoters of the game, then instead of wasting the next 3 games in Florida, do shift them to New York or Dallas.There would be no logistic issues as well,and you have ample time to make necc arrangements pic.twitter.com/mu4UbSQTks

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian)

Won’t be too much cricket in Florida this week …

… goodbyes in advance to &

Knowing that there is rain coming why doesn’t the either move games to other venues or schedule rest days?? pic.twitter.com/CmyR55jYM0

— Larry Leprechaun (@LarryLeprechau)

ayo might wanna move the Florida games across the border, the sun is shining bright here. Florida games getting rained out will dampen your virtually nonexistent efforts to grow the game in North America.
🇺🇸 🤝 🇨🇦
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— Cani (@caniyaar)
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