CRICKET ON THE RISE IN US

THE sport of cricket is growing at a fast pace in the United States.

There are more cricket competitions with participation by sponsored teams.

New facilities are being constructed.

Investors are pumping money into the game because of the large live and television audiences.

In Seattle, in Washington state, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella, a former player, is building a cricket stadium.

Nadella, who co-owns the Seattle Orcas cricket team, spoke of the appeal of the sport to the respective diasporas of game-playing nations.  

The state hosted the just-ended Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 competition at several venues.

King County Council has endorsed the construction of the stadium to support both adult and youth cricket leagues.

Although cricket has had a long history in the United States, its popularity has grown in recent times, with international and domestic competitions.

There is a United States of America Cricket Association, and a national team has qualified in the past for Division Two international contests.

The four-year-old MLC competition is by far the most popular annual tournament, with six teams, each with international stars.

The league has captured the attention of the American media.

MI New York lifted the winner’s trophy, on the strength of a blistering 137 runs in 55 balls by Trinidad and Tobago’s Nicholas Pooran, in the final against Seattle Orcas.

Pooran scored an aggregate of 388 runs in the competition, making him the star batsman.

Those in the cricket fraternity anticipate continuous growth in the US.