T20 World Cup: a catalyst for the sports' American Dream

Cricket begins a campaign for the hearts and wallets of American fans this week, with the T20 World Cup starting on Saturday in Dallas, bringing the best of the sport to unfamiliar territory.

The United States faces Canada in the tournament's first match, which is being co-hosted by the West Indies, while the first of eight matches will be played on Monday at a temporary stadium in Nassau County, New York. Lauderhill, Florida, will host four matches.

Cricket has billions of fans worldwide, but few in the lucrative North American market, where fans are more likely to see New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge pick up a bat than Rohit Sharma or Jos Buttler.

"This is the start of a journey," International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice told Reuters. "The awareness that we're bringing in more elite cricket to the USA is something that's been a strategic priority for us."

The journey started with Major League Cricket, which began play in the United States last year, and will culminate with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, when cricket will be reintroduced into the Olympic programme for the first time since 1900.

"In the lead up to the Los Angeles Olympics, I think we'll be continuing to try and raise the profile of cricket, not just for the established cricket fans in the USA but for new fans," said Allardice.

The tournament, which features Jamaican track star Usain Bolt as an ambassador, is a dream come true for American immigrants, who make up a large portion of the sport's fan base and are more accustomed to watching the action on television than in their own backyard.

"I mean, (India have) got some of the biggest names in world sport as part of their team," said Allardice. "And to be able to get close to them and see them in action, I think it's an opportunity that's something that comes along (not) very often for cricket fans in the USA."

SportsLigue