The seats at the Providence Stadium were only partially filled as most of the stands across the venue remained empty and isolated.
The 9th edition of ICC‘s cricketing extravaganza is being jointly hosted by USA and West Indies and the USA vs Canada game on Saturday kicked off the event.
Amid a low turnout in the first T20 World Cup game in the Caribbean, the internet was abuzz, labelling it a disappointment.
Earlier, West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and opted to bowl first against PNG in the opening Group C match.
Despite a green-tinged pitch the two-time former champions opted for three spinners – Roston Chase, Akeil Hosein and Gudakesh Motie – in their final 11 at the start of a campaign in which they seek to become the first hosts to lift the T20 World Cup.
PNG, who stunned Zimbabwe on an unbeaten run to qualify for their second T20 World Cup appearance, are again reliant on their most experienced players – captain Assad Vala and fellow top-order batters Tony Ura and Lega Siaka – to post a challenging total.
Their only previous meeting in an official international fixture was at the 2018 qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe for the 2019 50-over-side World Cup where then captain Jason Holder’s unbeaten 99 guided West Indies to a six-wicket win in Harare.
Teams: West Indies – Rovman Powell (captain), Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie
Papua New Guinea – Assad Vala (captain), Tony Ura, Lega Siaka, Sese Bau, Hiri Hiri, Charles Amini, Kiplin Doriga, Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Kabua Morea, John Kariko
(With inputs from agencies)
