Cricket Takes A Leap Forward In America: An Inside Look

In the realm of American sports, a new narrative is beginning to unfold. This narrative is steeped in the high-energy, vibrant world of cricket, a sport long overlooked on American soil but now making its impressive entrance. On July 8, 2023, T Ten Global Sports and the SAMP Army Cricket Franchise etched a significant mark in the US sports landscape, hosting the first-ever draft event for T10 cricket in Raleigh, North Carolina. This seminal event, attracting luminaries from cricket and the NBA and NFL alike, marked the launch of the fast-paced, explosive ten-over cricket format in the United States.

Having successfully run six editions of the Abu Dhabi T10 and with an Indian Masters League in the pipeline, T Ten Global Sports has set its sights on the thriving US market. The inaugural season of the US Masters T10 League aims to showcase an eclectic mix of seasoned professionals and upcoming talents, offering the shortest format of cricket ever seen on a global scale.

Ritesh Patel, owner of the SAMP Army Cricket Franchise and a key orchestrator behind this cricket revolution in the US, was brimming with excitement about the endeavor. "Excited to bring this fast and explosive cricket format to the U.S.," he shared. "Players participating in this tournament have a huge following all over the globe and this is a great opportunity for American fans to witness this for the very first time on American soil. Sports and entertainment have always been a huge factor bringing people together from all over the world, and this is our goal."

The inaugural draft event witnessed over 100 players signed on to the six pioneering teams of the US Masters T10 Cricket League: the California Knights, Texas Chargers, New Jersey Legends, Morrisville Unity, Atlanta Riders, and the New York Warriors. As these cities ready themselves for this dynamic and competitive sport, it's evident that cricket is no longer an alien entity in the U.S. sports scene.

High-profile cricket stars like Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Shahid Afridi, Gautam Gambhir and Mohamed Hafeez are now set to grace American cricket grounds, poised for a series of high-intensity games that are bound to keep fans riveted.

The first-ever US Masters T10 League is slated to commence on August 18th and conclude on August 27th, with all the matches being hosted at the Central Broward Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. A detailed schedule for each team's games will be released soon, heightening anticipation for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

The Rise Of Cricket In America

Over the past few years, the landscape of cricket in the US has been gradually shifting, and the numbers tell a compelling story. Major League Cricket (MLC) has helped rekindle interest in the sport with a massive $120 million investment dedicated to nurturing the growth of cricket in America. This substantial fund is earmarked for fostering a new wave of homegrown cricket talent, as well as supporting the construction of cricket-specific stadiums and training centers.

Cricket viewership in the US has been witnessing a remarkable surge. The recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 set a record as the most-watched cricket tournament on ESPN+ in the US. This significant rise in viewership underscores the untapped potential for cricket in the US, a market identified by the ICC as crucial for the sport's growth.

USA Cricket chief executive, Iain Higgins, has estimated that there are between 10 to 20 million "extremely passionate" cricket fans in the country. As cricket content becomes more accessible in the US, it is anticipated that this burgeoning fanbase will play a crucial role in propelling cricket into mainstream American sports.

The financial future of cricket in America also shows promise. The MLC has been attracting significant investment from established Indian Premier League franchises, such as Kolkata Knight Riders. The injection of funds from these franchises not only underlines the financial viability of cricket in North America but also fuels its upward trajectory.

The United States' recognition as the co-host of the 2024 T20 World Cup, alongside the Caribbean, underlines the increasing momentum of the sport in the country and sets a powerful precedent for its future growth. Additionally, the potential expansion of women's cricket, albeit in its nascent stages, offers yet another avenue for cricket's growth in America.

Cricket's unfolding story in America is an exciting saga of steady growth in viewership, increasing revenue, and nurturing homegrown talent. Bolstered by impressive figures and a passionate fan base, cricket's ascendance into the realm of mainstream American sports is more a question of when, not if.

Photo by michael weir on Unsplash