New Delhi: The USA has registered a historic win against Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series which ended in a 2-1 win for the Americans. But is it enough to make the game popular in the States? For a country that has grown distant from the sport and found a much faster alternative in the form of baseball, it can turn out to be a tedious task.
📢 Announced!
Take a look at #TeamIndia‘s group stage fixtures for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 👌👌
India will play all their group matches in the USA 🇺🇸#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/zv1xrqr0VZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2024
Currently, the game of cricket is globally led by India who have a strong on and off-field presence in the game. However, ICC believes that cricket in the USA has an enormous market amongst the 30 million fans. For that to happen, both the upcoming T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics must go well. For the upcoming T20 WC, three locations, New York, Dallas and Lauderhill have been selected for 16 matches.
Sean Paul x Chanderpaul 🤩
The ICC has released the men’s #T20WorldCup 2024 anthem, ‘Out Of This World’ by Sean Paul and Kes 🎶pic.twitter.com/VKPHrc8RRW
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 2, 2024
Cricket was a popular game in the United States till the time of civil war in the 1860s. However, since then the sport has seen a downward spiral in the country. Legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara remarks, “(T20) it’s entertaining and that’s what people look for. That’s what Americans look for, you know…” The game is currently limited to just the expat communities in the States.
India Vs Pakistan VIP match tickets at the 2024 T20 World Cup are being sold at more than 40 Lakhs INR. (USA Today). pic.twitter.com/sSp2h9hU91
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 3, 2024
ICC comes out with quirkier ways for the promotion of cricket
For an average American who is a novice in the game of cricket, it is a difficult task to figure out the game with terminologies like ‘third man’, ‘fine leg’ and ‘mid-wicket‘. However, ICC is taking every step possible to make cricket popular in a country which has walked a long way past the game.
Game on! 🏏 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warmup matches kick off today. Don’t miss the action!
Download the CricClubs App and stay updated – https://t.co/h0t0mclHfz#icct20worldcup pic.twitter.com/Kkj5RBxTNQ— CricClubs (@cricclubs) May 27, 2024
Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt was seen promoting the game ahead of the T20 WC. Simultaneously, the game was also promoted during the recently concluded US Grand Prix held in Miami. For the Americans, cricket brings in a lot of hope for the entire nation given the fact they have the hosting rights.
5 days left! Get ready to dive into the thrill of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, only on STARZPLAY Sports🏏
Watch all the action live on your TV, smartphone, or tablet🔗 https://t.co/9vY8n73fZD#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fpyL9VmYy4
— Cricket on STARZPLAY (@starzplaymasala) May 27, 2024
Ali Khan’s return is a major boost for co-hosts USA as they head into the ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 2024 💪
Full squad details 👉 https://t.co/Qj8nBO9NTd pic.twitter.com/evJc5Xip3x
— ICC (@ICC) May 4, 2024
But, for Venu Pisike, the board of directors of USA Cricket sees the opportunity far greater than the hosting rights. “….With the marketing and promotion activities during the World Cup, there is some momentum…that will attract the community..” Cricket in the United States has received a major boost with the introduction of the Major League Cricket. It now remains to be seen what is the future of cricket in the States.
