Even though cricket may not immediately conjure images of the USA, there may be a change in the air. At a remodelled baseball field in Texas, Major League Cricket, a new franchise T20 competition, got underway on Thursday night to an enthusiastic 7,000 spectators. According to the BBC Asian Network, the competition, which has six teams from significant American cities and stars playing cricket, has sparked interest among players abroad as well.
Even though cricket may not immediately conjure images of the USA, there may be a change in the air. At a remodelled baseball field in Texas, Major League Cricket, a new franchise T20 competition, got underway on Thursday night to an enthusiastic 7,000 spectators. As the BBC Asian Network found, the tournament has created excitement even among players outside of the United States. It features six teams from major U.S. cities and stars of the cricket world.
But it’s not just the big names that play; Minor League Cricket is a developmental program for younger players. Players from all over the world are drawn to this avenue more and more. Mohammed, 25, a cricket player for South Asian Cricket Academy and Slough Cricket Club, tells a tale about his friend Jai, who quit his job to play in the Minor League.
“Jai, my partner, is my real friend. He tells BBC Asian Network that he quit his work and moved to America to play in the minor leagues. “He was playing club cricket here and obviously saw opportunities out there and left quite early.” Mohammed is motivated to pursue opportunities in the United States by his friend’s journey.
I think that nations such as the United States of America present excellent prospects because, I suppose, one can quickly gain a roster spot if one is talented. On the other hand, in other nations, the procedure is more drawn out and requires constant validation.”
“I think it’s going to be massive – knowing the Americans, they love to go pretty big on things,” he says in response to a question regarding the tournament’s possible long-term success. Thus, I’m confident it will succeed if they invest.
Washington Freedom’s owner, Sanjay Govil, is upbeat about the competition’s outcome. One of the two teams not run by Indian Premier League (IPL) teams is the Washington Freedom. The IPL is the richest cricket league in the world. Because “cricket is religion” in India, Govil cites his upbringing as the reason he decided to purchase the team.
“I’m passionate about cricket’s potential in America and I think it can unite people from all walks of life. Playing cricket is a terrific way to achieve that,” he says. Even though Govil sees Major League Cricket as a major organization, he admits that the first step is to get support for his preferred sport in the US.
We might not be as good as the NFL or the NBA, but we still have a place, in my opinion. “We also want to establish the American side as one of the premier teams qualifying for tournaments and be a contender in the Olympics, if it happens in 2028.”
