Cricket players at Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest part of the Bronx are enthusiastic about the game.

Some may think players would be supportive of the Cricket World Cup coming to the park. However, some say building a temporary stadium in the park is a bad ball. 

“Even though being a cricketer, I am against the cricket stadium or we are against the cricket stadium just because of the number of people who are going to get impacted,” Kiran Kannan, a cricketer with the Hoboken Cricket Club, said.

The International Cricket Council is considering bringing next year’s Cricket World Cup to the Bronx. The proposal has support from City Hall.

But cricket players say building a temporary stadium at Van Cortlandt Park would impact their ability to play on this massive field that used for many sports.

Along with cricket matches, cross-country races, soccer games, baseball games and family gatherings were held at the park this weekend. 

“I think trying to have a game in NYC is a good idea, but I don’t think enough thought was put into the effect this would have on the community and a season’s worth of games that might have to be postponed.” Peter Jones, a cricketer with the Mad Dogs Cricket Club, said.

“You don’t want it here, why not? Because we play here, this is our ground,” Nischay Mishra, a cricketer with the Columbia Cricket Club, said.

If the International Cricket Council selects New York as a host city, Mayor Eric Adams is proposing building a 34,000 seat temporary stadium in Van Cortlandt Park, which could take months to put up.

The cricket event would be held in June of next year. 

Bronx elected officials and community groups have been outspoken against any plan that takes the parkland away from the public.

They also say bringing tens of thousands of people into the area would be a major disruption to the neighborhood. Some cricket players agreed with elected officials. 

“I don’t think it should be built,” Cuthbert Mendonca, a cricketer with the Crusaders Cricket Club, said. “What is going to happen to the residents? It’s only the investors making money. The residents ain’t making nothing, they are suffering.”

The Adams administration says hosting the tournament could bring in $150 million in economic activity and create thousands of jobs  

Some other cricket players at Van Cortlandt Park are staying open to the plan.

“I don’t mind it. It is good for the sport, especially bringing in an international stadium. Good for the sport,” Aditya Kaushik, a cricketer with the Mad Dogs Cricket Club, said. “It’s a big deal, have an international cricket game in New York City is a big deal.“

“Of course I want to see all of the international players come in and see all of their stars. It would be a fun activity, good for the economy, but where are going to go? But if they can provide us a different facility where we can do our matches, our season matches, then I would definitely support it,” Owais Khan, a cricketer with the Columbia Cricket Club, said.

Bronx lawmakers say if a plan moves forward to build a temporary stadium, their next move will be going to court to block it.