Bangladesh men’s cricket team’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas was cancelled on Tuesday (May 28) due to thunderstorms and a tornado. Images going viral on social media showed the ground wrecked by the severe climactic conditions.
The newly installed giant screen in the ground was damaged after wind speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour swept across the stadium.
“This is to confirm that the warm-up match between Bangladesh and the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas today has been cancelled due to the conditions of the facilities following the adverse weather that has affected the area,” Rabeed Iman, Bangladesh’s team manager, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
The thunderstorms and tornadoes have wreaked havoc in the central and southern parts of the US in the last few weeks. According to reports, the death toll due to the storms had risen to 22 by Monday. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky accounted for the majority of the deaths.
US President Joe Biden spoke with the governors of the affected states on Monday and expressed condolences for the lives lost.
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground conducting damage assessments with state and local counterparts,” reports said quoting the White House.
The recent T20I series between Bangladesh and US was also marred by similar conditions. The first T20I was under threat in Houston after a storm damaged the stadium infrastructure.
T20 World Cup matches scheduled in Texas:
June 1: United States v Canada, Dallas
June 4: Netherlands v Nepal, Dallas
June 6: United States v Pakistan, Dallas
June 7: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Dallas
When will India play T20 World Cup warm-up matches?
India will play their warm-up match a day before the T20 World Cup starts. They will face Bangladesh in their practice match on June 1 in New York.