Florida Will Host Four Caribbean Premier League Cricket Matches This Year

Four Caribbean Premier League games will be played in the U.S. this year, "as Florida's Central Broward Regional Park has been approved" by the Int'l Cricket Council to host the T20 league's matches, according to Peter Della Penna of ESPN.com. The stadium in Lauderhill, which remains the U.S.'s only ground to have ODI and T20I certification by the ICC, "will host two matches fewer than last year's tally of six." CPL officials announced the development "after receiving permission from the ICC" -- which is the approving authority while USA Cricket Association "remains suspended" -- to host the event. The '17 edition of the tournament will be held from Aug. 4-Sept. 10. A source at the Central Broward Regional Park said that the CPL reserved Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 to play doubleheaders beginning at 10am and 2pm each day. However, after the Thursday and Friday matches in '16 "struggled to break 50% capacity, with 10,000 tickets allowed for each game, there are no matches scheduled for weekdays this time around" (ESPN.com, 4/12).