The Prairie View Stadium in Houston, the venue scheduled to host the Bangladesh-USA series matches, has been severely damaged by a powerful storm. The entire stadium is said to be completely devastated.
A severe cyclone swept through the Houston area on Friday, reportedly causing the deaths of seven people. Additionally, the entire Houston area has been left without power, with 900,000 people spending Friday night in darkness.
All temporary structures at Prairie View Stadium have been completely destroyed by the storm. This includes players’ dugouts, VIP tents, and the sightscreens, all of which were temporary installations. Even the practice nets have been fully damaged. All the stands set up for the broadcasting authorities have been blown away by the storm.
The first match of the Bangladesh-USA series is scheduled for May 21, just three days away. ESPN Cricinfo’s USA correspondent Peter Della Penna wrote that it might not be possible to prepare the field for play in such a short time. As a result, there is doubt about whether the first match between Bangladesh and the USA will take place.
Peter Della Penna also reported that on Friday, May 17, the USA cricket team’s practice session was moved from Prairie View Stadium to a nearby indoor stadium. Officials from the USA Cricket Association are quickly assessing the field’s condition and are taking steps to repair all damaged structures and facilities.
Before the World Cup, Bangladesh is set to play a three-match T20 series against the host USA. This is the first time Najmul Hossain Shanto’s team will face the USA in a series, but the series is in jeopardy before it even begins due to the storm damage.
