While cricket's popularity waned in North America, it steadily thrived elsewhere.
And now, in the biggest ever T20 World Cup, there is no clear favourite as 20 nations are split into four groups vying to win the fastest format of international cricket.
Two-time champions West Indies will host the majority of the matches, including the semi-finals and the final on June 29, at traditional cricket venues in the Caribbean, but matches at stadiums in Dallas, New York and Lauderhill will play a key role in determining which teams progress to the knockout stages.
The group details are as follows:
The U.S. team is full of confidence going into the tournament opener after a 2-1 warm-up series win over Test-ranked Bangladesh.
“We're hungry and we're going to beat whoever's in our way,” said fast bowler Ali Khan, one of four key US players rested for the third match, which Bangladesh won by 10 wickets. “I'm confident the US will pull off the upset.”
India and Pakistan are the favourites to progress to the Super Eight stage from Group A, which also includes Ireland.
India will be banking on experienced players such as captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who will likely be playing in a T20 World Cup for the last time, as they look to reclaim the title they won in the inaugural tournament in South Africa in 2007.
A match between Pakistan and India adds special allure to any ICC event, drawing a television audience of more than one billion. The first-round match between the subcontinental neighbours is scheduled to be played on June 9 at a new 34,000-seat stadium in New York.
Rain in England has hampered Pakistan's preparations for the World Cup by cancelling two of their four T20 matches, but the 2009 champions have reached the semi-finals or further in the last two tournaments and will be hoping to progress all the way to the trophy.
Like the United States, Ireland pulled off an upset against a major team by winning the first game of a three-match series against Babar Azam's full Pakistan in Dublin, before losing the remaining two games of the warm-up series.
Defending champions England and 2021 winners Australia are in a relatively easy group which also includes Namibia, Oman and Scotland.
England go into the World Cup having played only a handful of matches in the format since winning in Australia in 2022, but players have been competing in prominent domestic T20 leagues to continue their preparations for the mega event.
Captain Jos Buttler has had a brilliant run of double centuries in the Indian Premier League, while Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt and Sam Curran have also enjoyed long spells in the big-ticket franchise tournament.
Australia will be without T20 standout Jake Fraser-McGurk but boast one of the world's most potent bowling attacks, led by pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Namibia qualified for the World Cup after remaining unbeaten in their six-match Africa regional qualifier, beating Uganda and Zimbabwe, with an upset win over Sri Lanka in 2022 standing as the highlight so far for the country.
Oman will be playing in their third T20 World Cup but have a squad with plenty of tournament experience. They have beaten Namibia twice and will be led by top-order batsman Aqib Ilyas, who has a batting average of 42.50 and a strike rate of 158.38 in his last seven matches.
Only the top two teams will progress to the Super Eight, meaning it could be the toughest battle of the group, with either the West Indies, New Zealand or Afghanistan facing early elimination from the tournament.
Afghanistan have the batting and bowling talent to challenge both the West Indies and New Zealand, especially spinners Rashid Khan and Mujib-ur-Rahman.
West Indies, led by Rovman Powell and featuring former captain Nicholas Pooran, pace bowler Shamar Joseph and experienced Jason Holder, will be utilising home advantage in their bid to win a third title.
Kane Williamson's New Zealand side have regularly reached the semi-finals of major ICC tournaments, and the Black Caps have a squad well suited to the demands of fast-paced T20, with Rachin Ravindra thriving as a spearhead in the batting and dominating the powerplay.
Uganda, who go into their first World Cup with a record of 41 wins from their last 49 T20 international matches, may spring a surprise, while Papua New Guinea are also on a good run of form with 14 wins from 18 matches ahead of their second appearance in the World Cup.
South Africa will be hoping to shake off the “choker” label in ICC tournaments and are one of the favourites to progress from a group that also includes two Test-match nations, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, along with the Netherlands and Nepal.
South Africa have no shortage of power hitters and will benefit from Heinrich Klaassen's dominance against spin bowling. Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller and Reeza Hendricks are capable of adding impetus to the innings against any bowling attack. Keshav Maharaj and wrist-spinner Tabraj Shamsi are South Africa's two standout spinners, while Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will lead the pace attack.
Sri Lanka's compact spin attack comprises captain Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Teekshana, two of the best spinners on the T20 circuit, while their batting depth is not as strong but still includes Kusal Mendis, Charith Atharanka, former captain Dasun Shanaka and Angelo Mathews.
Bangladesh's chances of progressing will depend heavily on the return to form of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das.
AP T20 World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
