World Cup and Olympic Hopes
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, presents a significant opportunity to raise cricket's profile in the country. While the sport currently enjoys popularity primarily among expats, USA Cricket chairman Venu Pisike believes the World Cup and the prospect of cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics can attract a wider American audience.
The USA team, featuring a mix of semi-professional players of South Asian heritage and international stars like Corey Anderson, will make its World Cup debut on June 1 against Canada. Pisike acknowledges the challenge of popularizing cricket in the USA, but sees the World Cup and the Olympics as catalysts for growth.
"The World Cup is bringing a lot of awareness," Pisike said. "The opportunity for cricket to be in the Olympics will definitely attract the community because the US is a huge sports country."
He believes the Olympics, with its massive viewership, will provide a platform for cricket to reach a broader audience and attract more resources for its development.
New York Stadium Ready for World Cup
The World Cup will be played across three venues in the USA, with a special focus on the new stadium in New York, where India and Pakistan will clash on June 9. The 34,000-capacity stadium, built in a remarkably short timeframe, is expected to be ready within a week.
"The new stadium that is being built in New York will be unveiled in a week's time," Pisike said. "It will become a wonder of cricketing infrastructure to put up in a very short time."
The stadium features drop-in pitches imported from Australia, aiming to provide a balanced playing surface for both batters and bowlers.
Collaboration with BCCI and Stable Governance
While the USA team did not train in India ahead of the World Cup, Pisike seeks the BCCI's support for training and exposure opportunities after the tournament. He highlights past collaborations with Indian cricket associations and expresses interest in future partnerships.
The USA Cricket chairman also acknowledges the challenges of stable governance faced by the sport in the past. However, he assures that the current regime is fully compliant with regulations and committed to good governance practices.
"The governance will be streamlined with the opportunity to become an Olympic National Governing Body," Pisike said. "In terms of financial management and other related activities, we are fully in compliance compared to the previous regime."
With the World Cup and the Olympics on the horizon, cricket in the USA has a chance to break new ground and attract a passionate following among the American public.